Hospital staffin the Netherlandsface quarantine after flouting strict PPE protocols while treating a patient who had been aboard the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship, the MV Hondius.
The Radboud University Medical Centre (Radboudumc) confirmed on Monday that 12 members of staff had put themselvesat riskof contamination by failing to adhere to specific, stringent protocols when handling blood and urine samples from an infected individual who had been on board thevirus-plagued vessel.
Despite the risk of infection being deemed low, the 12 healthcare workers are to remain in "preventive quarantine for six weeks as a precaution," the hospital confirmed.
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The patient, infected with the rodent-borne virus, has been receiving hospital treatment since Wednesday, following a medical evacuation from the ill-fated Dutch vessel that has been at the heart of an international health emergency in recent weeks. Blood samples were taken from the patient and processed using standard safety measures. "Due to the nature of the virus, this blood should have been processed according to a stricter procedure," a hospital spokesperson confirmed on Monday.
"In addition, it became clear on Saturday, May 9, that the most up-to-date international regulations had not been followed during the disposal of the patient's urine." Staff members will receive all necessary support while in isolation, the university medical centre confirmed, with Radboudumc board chair Dr Bertine Lahuis moving to reassure the public that the risk to the wider population remains low.
"Despite the fact that the chance of actual infection is very small, these measures have a significant impact on all those involved. We regret that this has happened at our university medical centre," she said, adding that a careful investigation is coming to "learn from this and to prevent it from happening in the future" once again.
Her public remarks come just days after the infected patient was first triaged at the hospital, with the Dutch medical centre having assured the public at the time that its staff had the hantavirus containment measures firmly under control.
A spokesperson said at the time: "On the ward where the patient is admitted, appropriate isolation measures have been taken to prevent spread, in accordance with internationally agreed protocols. The team is specialised and trained in the care of patients with severe infectious diseases."
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
