Monkeypox nurse’s husband waits 12 hours for an ambulance

Monkeypox nurse’s husband who ‘caught virus from his wife’ waits 12 hours for an ambulance and is told he will be ARRESTED if he steps outside of his home

• The husband of a healthcare assistant is thought to have caught monkeypox 
• If confirmed, he will be the fourth case of the virus in the past three weeks  
• The Lancashire couple are being treated at hospitals in Newcastle and Liverpool 
• Do you know any of the patients affected by monkeypox? Email [email protected] 

The husband of the health worker who caught monkeypox at work had to wait 12 hours for an ambulance – even though he was told he needed urgent attention.

The 50-year-old builder, from Fleetwood in Lancashire, was told by health officials to stay inside, in case he had the virus.

They reportedly even threatened the builder – who is convinced he caught the killer virus from his wife – with arrest if he went outside.

He had been suffering from flu-like symptoms and had broken out in spots – a tell-tale sign of the tropical disease – and is now being kept in hospital.

And the couple’s daughter said her father is ‘convinced he has it’ after her mother caught the infection while treating a patient at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Concerns about the virus spreading began after two people travelling from Nigeria became the UK’s first ever cases of monkeypox within four days of one another.  

A mother-of-two from Fleetwood, Lancashire, is thought to have caught the possibly fatal virus while changing bedding at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. The previous two victims caught the virus in Nigeria before travelling to the UK

The third case – the first to be caught in the UK – is now being treated in isolation at a specialist unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

Public Health England today told MailOnline anyone who hasn’t been contacted by officials already should not be concerned. 

The Government agency said it is monitoring people who may be at risk every day, however it did not say how many people this was. 

But friends of the third monkeypox victim’s husband fear they may have caught it, after they had socialised with him before he broke out in a rash.

She is now believed to have passed it to her husband, who has been taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital for tests.

The unnamed man was said to be ‘terrified’ when told he needed urgent medical help, but was left waiting 12 hours until 10.30pm for an ambulance to arrive.

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He was also told to stay at home alone while he waited, with health officials ‘threatening him with arrest’ if he left the house, The Sun reported.

His daughter, who was out of the country when her mother caught the virus and has been told she is not at risk, told The Mirror: ‘Dad is convinced he has it.

‘My mum is in a bit of pain and covered in spots. I’d like to see her but she is in quarantine and they told me she could be in for two to five weeks or even more.’ 

The 40-year-old healthcare assistant – the third person to catch monkeypox – said the gloves she was given at work were too small and left her skin exposed.

Monkeypox spreads by physical contact or from coughs and sneezes and humans can catch it from wild monkeys, uncooked meat or other infected people. 

A hospital worker who became the third person in the UK to be struck down with deadly monkeypox has blamed ‘pathetically small’ NHS gloves for failing to protect her. (Stock photo)

WHAT IS MONKEYPOX? 

Monkeypox – often caught through handling monkeys – is a rare viral disease that kills around 10 per cent of people it strikes, according to figures.

The virus responsible for the disease is found mainly in the tropical areas of west and central Africa.

Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958, with the first reported human case in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970. Human cases were recorded for the first time in the US in 2003 and the UK in September 2018.

It resides in wild animals but humans can catch it through direct contact with animals, such as handling monkeys, or eating inadequately cooked meat. 

The virus can enter the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract, or the eyes, nose or mouth.

It can pass between humans via droplets in the air, and by touching the skin of an infected individual, or touching objects contaminated by them. 

Symptoms usually appear within five and 21 days of infection. These include a fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills and fatigue.

The most obvious symptom is a rash, which usually appears on the face before spreading to other parts of the body. This then forms skin lesions that scab and fall off.

Monkeypox is usually mild, with most patients recovering within a few weeks without treatment. Yet, the disease can often prove fatal.

There are no specific treatments or vaccines available for monkeypox infection, according to the World Health Organization. 

‘Mum thinks the gloves should cover your arms when you are dealing with cases like this,’ the daughter added.

An unnamed friend of the husband, who had been socialising in pubs near his Fleetwood home before falling ill, told the Sun: ‘Everyone is worried they could be next.

‘He’s been so unwell he took some time off work. Hopefully his mates are not at risk.’ He is currently at the Royal Liverpool Hospital for tests. 

The woman’s colleagues at the hospital in Blackpool are thought to have been given the smallpox vaccine, which protects against the monkeypox virus.

The 40-year-old said: ‘The gloves were too short to cover my arms and left my skin exposed while changing the bed. I think that’s how I got infected.’ 

The healthcare assistant, who has not been identified, developed flu-like symptoms after working at the hospital, where one of the previous victims had been. 

Public Health England has already ordered smallpox vaccines to give to health workers treating infected patients. 

It said it will give the vaccine to people who had the ‘highest exposure’ to the monkeypox patients – even though viruses can spread if people spend just minutes around someone who is infected.

The mother-of-two also said: ‘They told us we weren’t at risk – but that’s obviously nonsense. I’m terrified about what may happen to me and my family.’  

The previous two victims caught the virus in Nigeria before travelling to the UK. 

Further information about their condition has not been released but officials yesterday confirmed they are both still in isolation at different hospitals.

Public Health England (PHE) warned patients remain infectious for up to three weeks – until the rash has scabbed over and the scabs have dropped off.

It is thought nurses and doctors are wearing respirator masks, eye protection and disposable gowns, gloves and shoe covers to provide care.  

PHE repeatedly claimed the risk of infection was low and staff, patients and visitors were safe. However, it admitted the third case was ‘not wholly unexpected’.

It comes after PHE issued an urgent monkeypox warning in the wake of the first two cases, warning it could be spread through bedding.

In guidance aimed at doctors and nurses, the Government agency urged them to avoid touching suspected cases with their hands and to always wear gloves. 

PHE said the health worker was following standard guidance because the patient they were treating had not been confirmed to have monkeypox. 

Commenting on the third case – the healthcare assistant – Dr Nick Phin, deputy director of the National Infection Service at PHE, said: ‘This healthcare worker cared for the patient before a diagnosis of monkeypox was made. 

‘We have been actively monitoring contacts for 21 days after exposure to detect anyone presenting with an illness so that they can be assessed quickly. 

‘It is therefore not wholly unexpected that a case has been identified.

‘This person has been isolated and we are taking a highly precautionary approach to ensure that all contacts are traced.’ 

Andy Welch, medical director of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: ‘We are currently treating a patient who has been diagnosed with monkeypox. 

‘The patient is in isolation and being cared for by specialist and highly trained staff who are experienced in dealing with a variety of infectious diseases.

Monkeypox – often caught through handling monkeys – is a rare viral disease that kills around 10 per cent of people it strikes, according to figures (stock)

A 40-year-old mother-of-two, from Fleetwood, Lancashire, is thought to have caught the possibly fatal virus while changing bedding at Blackpool Victoria Hospital (above, file photo)

‘There is no risk to other patients and visitors and we have robust procedures in place to ensure our patients and staff are protected. In order to maintain patient confidentiality we will not release any further information.’ 

DIDN’T THEY WARN IT COULD BE SPREAD THROUGH BEDDING?

Health chiefs issued an urgent monkeypox warning earlier this month telling doctors and nurses to avoid touching suspected cases with their bare hands.

Public Health England (PHE) gave out the official guidance after the second patient was struck down with the killer virus in the UK.

Officials revealed monkeypox can be spread through contact with clothing or linen, such as bedding or towels, used by an infected person.

They said medics must wear gloves when touching patients who could be infected and practise good hand hygiene because the disease can spread between people via a rash which develops into skin lesions which later scab and fall off.

PHE released the guidance in a document called ‘Monkeypox: information for primary care’.

William Thirtle, from Newcastle, was being treated at the RVI for a problem with his eyesight. 

The 53-year-old labourer said: ‘You aren’t going to want to come in to here when all you hear on the news is about this deadly and contagious disease that’s here. 

‘I know that the woman concerned is in isolation, but who has she been in contact with? 

‘She contracted it because she is a nurse – so how do you know her patients she treated before she was diagnosed haven’t contracted it.’

He added: ‘It’s worrying because these are vulnerable people. It’s just awful. I am diabetic, but am here today for a problem with my eyesight. 

‘I wasn’t sure about coming, but I thought I’d rather come and risk it than lose my eyesight. 

‘I have to come back here in two weeks, but if things haven’t died down by then I might have to go elsewhere.’ 

PHE said it was following up with close contacts of the new patient to provide advice and monitor their health.  

The medical professional is now being treated by doctors in the specialist unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle (pictured) 

The viral disease was recorded for the first time in the UK on September 7 in a Nigerian national staying at a naval base in Cornwall.

The patient was transferred to the expert infectious disease unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London the following day.

WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL AT BLACKPOOL VICTORIA HOSPITAL? 

A practice nurse whose colleague contracted monkeypox from a patient said the hospital have specific procedures for dealing with sufferers of infectious disease.

The nurse, who wished to remain anonymous, said a patient with an infectious disease would usually be moved to a separate ward in Blackpool Victoria Hospital to be isolated.

The nurse said: ‘Usual procedure with a patient you believe doesn’t have an infectious disease, you would give them some water or coffee without wearing any gloves.

‘In the case [of someone who has an infection], that person would be on [a separate ward] to prevent the infection. They would be in a side room, isolated with double doors so when you open one, the one behind you closes and locks. That would be usual for an infected patient.

‘When we know or there is a query of an infectious disease the person goes to that separate ward.’

‘It is a small ward with only around eight side rooms. In case we can’t do that, the patient gets transferred to another ward with a side room.

‘The patient would have a trolley which tells [the nurse] whether they have an infection. The nurse would wear a different apron to other nurses, it is yellow [if they have been infected].’

The nurse said staff within the hospital have spoken about their concerns this morning [Sep 27] after reading about the case in the media.

He added: ‘People have spoken about it [within the hospital]. For the policies of the hospital we are very concentrated and focused on being careful. ‘

A second person was then confirmed to have been struck down with the virus on September 11. 

The unidentified patient first went to Blackpool Victoria Hospital with symptoms, before they tested positive for monkeypox. 

They were then sent for treatment at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, a specialist centre. 

Officials believe both the first two patients caught the virus, often spread through handling monkeys and proves fatal in 10 per cent of cases, in Nigeria before flying to England. 

Nigeria was hit hard by a virulent outbreak of monkeypox last September, with 89 people infected and six deaths recorded in March.

The country had not previously reported a case of the disease since 1978.

The most recent government figures, released last year, estimate there are 190,000 people that were born in Nigeria who currently live in the UK. 

Monkeypox is a rare viral infection that was first discovered in monkeys in 1958. While similar to smallpox, it is not as deadly.

The first case in a human was discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970, and since cases have been reported in central and west African countries.  

Initial symptoms include fever, headache and chills. As the illness develops large welts can appear over the face and body.

Monkeypox resides in wild animals but humans can catch it through direct contact with animals, such as handling monkeys, or eating inadequately cooked meat.

It can pass between humans via droplets in the air, and by touching the skin of an infected individual, or touching objects contaminated by them. 

Most people who contract the disease recover within a few weeks, but in up to 10 per cent of cases it is fatal.

The virus was recorded for the first time in the UK on Friday, September 7 in a Nigerian national staying in Cornwall, who is now being treated at the Royal Free Hospital in London (pictured)

It comes after an eminent virologist earlier this month told MailOnline monkeypox infects 10 per cent of people who come into contact with sufferers.

Professor Earl Brown, at the University of Ottawa, said hospital staff treating the patient at are particularly at risk of catching the deadly virus.

Thirty-seven people were confirmed to have been struck down by monkeypox in an outbreak in the US in 2003.

It was the first time the disease, which had been confirmed in five states, had been reported in humans outside of Africa.

Monkeypox was two years ago named as one of 37 viruses that pose a potential threat to populations around the world.

University of Edinburgh listed the virus among MERS and two strains of Ebola, a haemorrhagic fever responsible for a brutal pandemic in 2014. 

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