Health workers' lives at risk following outbreak of air born disease

By Cindy Witten
29 October 2008

Nurses based at the Morningside Medi-Clinic feel that their lives are at risk following the outbreak of the viral haemorragic disease identified as arenavirus.

The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) is disgusted at authorities for claiming that the forth victim, a cleaner at Morning side Medi clinic’s, death was caused by an AIDS related disease, after discovering that she was in fact a victim of the haemorragic fever. According to the DENOSA, it proves the ignorance of management regarding the disease.

DENOSA’s Ayanda Fongqo says that health workers' lives are at risk and that the Medi-Clinic should be examined incase the air born virus still lurks in its corridors.
“This quarantine and isolation processes that also applies to XTR TB patients should be applied because the very same disease is also contaminated through the air,” said Fongqo.

The Organisation calls for the examination of other health workers working at Morningside Medi-Clinic in order to check whether they are at risk so that the disease can be controlled.