Disease Spread Averted In Cook Islands

Disease Spread Averted In Cook Islands

MEDIA RELEASE

3 April 2009
The quick and well planned response to an emergency by the Health Department has averted the possible spread of a contagious disease.

Director of hospital health services Helen Webber who headed the response team says the ministry was “proactive in addressing the possible infection of 24 passengers, flight crew and ground crew that were involved with the 9.10am flight from Aitutaki on the 1 April 2009.”

She explained that onboard that flight was a child with suspected Meningococcemia, a bacterial infection.

All crew and passengers were identified and contacted by hospital and public health staff within 24 hours and issued with antibiotics to prevent possible infection.

“Some passengers took up to 24 hours to locate after the flight landed, as they had gone back to New Zealand or other outer islands, but all have now been contacted and covered with antibiotic medication.”

Webber confirmed that there is no risk of further infection to the general public because of the speed of dispensing medication to those who came in close contact with the child. The child, a girl, is in a serious but stable condition and was transported by a chartered special air ambulance to Starship Hospital to Auckland on Thursday 2 April.

Webber said the ministry is grateful to the New Zealand government which covered the cost of the flight and sending two intensive care staff, a doctor and a nurse to care for the patient in transit.

Health minister Sir Terepai Maoate said he was extremely pleased with the response by the ministry to the emergency and the speed with which antibiotics were dispensed to all those passengers who came into close contact with the sick child.

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