Gauteng hospitals 'on high alert'
2008-10-06 08:44
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.