Johannesburg

Tuesday

Sunny. Pleasantly warm.

12°C
27°C

7 day forecasts

Gauteng hospitals 'on high alert'

2008-10-06 08:44

Antoinette Pienaar

Johannesburg - The National Institute for Communicable Diseases is urgently doing tests to determine the origin of a highly contagious disease that has already killed three people in Gauteng.

The unknown disease probably originated in Zambia, and the Department of Health issued a press statement on Sunday warning travellers who had been to the country in the past month, to go to hospital if they were experiencing flu-like symptoms.

The first patient, a Zambian woman, was critically ill when she was admitted to the Morningside Medi-Clinic in Johannesburg on September 12.

She died two days later, but tests for several diseases, including haemorrhagic fever, were negative.

On September 27, the paramedic who had accompanied her from Zambia, was admitted to the same hospital with flu symptoms.

His condition initially improved, but deteriorated on Wednesday. The man died the next day. All the tests done on him came back with negative results.

On Sunday, a nurse who had treated the Zambian woman in hospital, died in the Sir Albert Robinson hospital on the West Rand.

Her test results were also negative.

Highly contagious

Melinda Pelser, district marketing manager of Medi-Clinic, said on Sunday she could not release the names of the patients as the disease was a notifiable one.

"All we know is that it is highly contagious.

"It is believed to be transmitted via drops of fluid, when one person coughs or sneezes or when someone encounters the bodily fluids of the infected person," she said.

"It is serious enough to be careful. We feel compelled to warn people."

The department said on Sunday it was monitoring everyone who had been in contact with the deceased, for fever and flu symptoms.

The Steve Biko (formerly the Pretoria Academic) and the Charlotte Maxeke (formerly Johannesburg General) hospitals have been placed on high alert to handle any more cases.

  • People who have been to Zambia during the past month and had high fever or flu-like symptoms should go to their nearest hospital for a medical examination. They may also contact Dr Chika Asomugha of the Gauteng Department of Health on 082 3301490.

    - Beeld

  • inside news24

    Latest comment in South Africa

    Capetonian says... I don't even see SAA Airlin MENTIONED in the article. What the hell are you on about Simon? Most of the delays were due to there not being enough busses and the drivers not knowing where to go. Add to that the aeroplane that had to return to CPT, and it was simply a bad day. Today everything went wonderfully. It was just a bad day. Read the article...

    Cpt: 13-18°C Sprinkles. Afternoon clouds. Mild. Pta: 15-31°C More sun than clouds. Pleasantly warm.
    Jhb: 12-27°C Sunny. Pleasantly warm. Bloem: 12-27°C High level clouds. Pleasantly warm.
    Dbn: 17-25°C Passing showers. More clouds than sun. Mild. PE: 14-23°C Morning clouds. Mild.
    7 day forecasts...
    Western Cape Eastern Cape Kwazulu Natal Gauteng

    Fourways - 19:31:34 PM Traffic lights not working at the William Nicol Drive Interchange More traffic reports...

    Here are the winning Lotto numbers from the Saturday, November 7 draw.

    18, 24, 25, 31, 35, 42 Bonus 38

    Lotto plus: 4, 14, 17, 20, 21, 34 Bonus 3

    SMS the word Lotto to 31222 to get lotto numbers sent directly to your phone. The service costs just R10 per month. 
    More lotto numbers...

    Jobs - Find your dream job

    Senior Accountant

    Gauteng - JHB North/Sandton
    Network Recruitment CA- Centurion
    R450,000-500,000 Per Annum Cost To Company

    Senior Accountant

    Gauteng - JHB North/Sandton
    Network Recruitment CA- Centurion
    R450,000-500,000 Per Annum Cost To Company

    PHP Contractor

    Western Cape - Cape Town
    Hire Resolve
    R20,000-25,000 Per Month

    Cars - Search 1000's of new and used cars

    AUDI

    2008 A4 1.8T Multitronics from R 269 000

    MERCEDES

    S500 AT MY06
    1999
    R 159,900.00

    TOYOTA

    Tazz 130 5-dr MY00
    2006
    R 75,990.00

    VOLKSWAGEN

    CitiGolf 1.4i CitiRox 5-dr
    2009
    R 96,500.00

    Property - Find a new home

    NOORDHEUWEL EXT 4

    Single Residential R1,300,000

    RANDPARK RIDGE

    Multiple Unit R790,000

    BANTRY BAY

    Multiple Unit R9,750,000

    Travel - Look, Book, Go!

    Free Games - TOO MUCH NEWS? TAKE A BREAK!