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Lisa’s rabies battle: dog scratch theory is probed
Monday, 22 December 2008
A joy to work with: Lisa McMurray was a familiar face at the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau.
enlargeA Belfast woman who contracted the potentially deadly rabies virus remained in a critical condition in hospital last night.
As Lisa McMurray continues to battle for her life in the Intensive Care Unit of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, doctors are probing a theory that she may have become infected whilst separating two fighting dogs.
Our sister paper The Sunday Life reported that friends of Lisa’s informed doctors treating her that she sent emails in December 2006 detailing how she was scratched separating the dogs at an animal sanctuary in South Africa.
She told friends one of the dogs, which was subsequently put down by the sanctuary owner, was foaming at the mouth.
She also wrote of her shock when she discovered the dog’s severed head in a fridge in the animal centre. Lisa, an ardent animal lover and a member of the Cats Protection League who is believed to be in 30s, began feeling unwell a few months after she returned home.
She was initially treated in the Ulster Hospital but was transferred to the Royal. A spokeswoman for the Royal last night said: “Lisa remains in a critically ill condition.”
A friend of Lisa’s told the Sunday Life: “Lisa was not a big fan of Christmas because her parents were no longer here and that’s why she went away. She loved animals and just wanted to work with them.
“But she cut short her visit after telling us that she wasn’t happy finding a dog’s head in a fridge.
“It may have been only there so that tests could be carried out later but it still caused her distress.”
The friend also revealed that Lisa mentioned in email correspondence that she had been scratched by a dog. As news of Lisa’s plight emerged last week, a spokesman for the Eastern Board confirmed an investigation had been launched.
He said: “The patient involved had previously been overseas in an area associated with rabies in animals and may have been bitten there. Any risk to the wider community is negligible.
“There is no documented case of human to human transmission of rabies.”
Lisa worked as a communications director for the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau until earlier this year before working with the Cats Protection Northern Ireland Adoption Centre in Dundonald.
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Comments
22 Comments
thank you Dr Blumberg for providing the only correct information on this case. Scaremongering is dreadful and so hurtful at such a terrible time, especially for her poop family.My daughter was at the same sanctuary that lisa was working at and we have been given exceptional care and advice. The hpa in the uk acted quickly and provided vaccines for my daughter immediately.
Please treat this case as it should be, an unfortunate dreadful incident that sadly in many parts of the world is suffered regularly. Because it is a western case it causes panic and scaremongering.
People need to be aware that rabies is still prolific especially in asia. Get your vaccines and always be aware of unknown animals, bites and broken skin-rabies has been around as long as mammals have been.
Posted by caroleranken | 14.01.09, 21:48 GMT
I worked with Lisa in South Africa and she was the most lovely, helpful and kind person. My thoughts are with all her family and friends. xx
Posted by jemma major | 08.01.09, 13:08 GMT
RIP
Posted by .......... | 07.01.09, 20:01 GMT
Lisa passed away today. How sad. Thoughts are with friends and family. x
Posted by Tiger | 06.01.09, 22:07 GMT
Lisa, I was so shocked to hear this news. You are in my thoughts constantly.
Posted by Paula | 23.12.08, 12:47 GMT
I had the pleasure of working with Lisa some years ago during time she spent in Toronto with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.I still remember her wonderful bubbly personality and what a joy she was to be around. Her farewell party when she finally returned to Belfast will long be remembered by those of us present. I together with my friends are praying for her and I hope she will soon be in a position to read all the messages that have been sent wishing her well. God willing there will be a happy outcome and Lisa will be back to doing what she does best which is looking after the animals she loves.
Posted by Margaret Healy | 22.12.08, 22:27 GMT
Lisa everyone at CP misses you very much. You are in our thoughts constantly.
Posted by Susan | 22.12.08, 21:37 GMT
I take exception to your comments Malachy. I worked for the NI Cats Protection centre for 5 years and Lisa is a friend of mine. It has been PROVEN that she has an AFRICAN strain of the virus and that it did NOT come from any of the cats at the shelter. We don't have rabies in Northern Ireland and I can absolutely assure you, and everyone, that all the cats in that shelter are under the very best of care and given regular vet checks and regular innoculations against the illnesses they CAN get in Northern Ireland. Rabies is NOT one of them - please go with the facts and avoid the ignorance and speculation that a lot of people in NI are guilty of.
I can also assure you that it's not possible, given the set up of the shelter, for any of the cats to come into contact with bats. The set up of this shelter is highly safe, modern and secure.
I hope this clarifies this - Lisa wouldn't want this sort of speculation. Let's just continue to pray for her and stay away from scaremongering.
Posted by Sarah | 22.12.08, 11:15 GMT
PLEASE READ:
Another poster here gave a link to a website that gives details of a girl who was saved after being infected by rabies. In case you missed it the address was:
http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/1031002506.html
It describes how doctors used drugs to induce a coma state and let the patient's body fight the virus. Amazingly she made a full recovery. Tests of her spinal fluid showed a full immune response and she was brought out of the coma after 7 days.
Has the hosptial heard about this treatment? Can someone please pass this on to them? I really hope Lisa pulls through.
Posted by Dom | 22.12.08, 01:09 GMT
hello i have a son who is attending bch for cancer and on this night i just want to say that my thoughts are with you and lisa may god be with you
Posted by john pennie | 21.12.08, 22:03 GMT
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases wishes to report that the rabies illness in the Irish volunteer is highly unlikely to be related to contact with monkeys at the Riverside Monkey Sanctuary. The most likely cause is contact with a rabid dog during her visit in December 2006. Rabies illness can present in humans weeks to months or less commonly years after contact with a rabid animal. During 2005/2006 there was a major increase in dog rabies in the Limpopo Province and a large number of human cases were reported. Dogs are the main source of rabies in humans in South Africa. No cases of rabies have ever been confirmed in monkeys in South Africa. There was one case of rabies in a captive baboon in Duiwelskloof more than 20 years ago.
Rabies is preventable in humans. All persons who are scratched, bitten or licked on the eyes or mouth by a stray dog or an animal that is very aggressive appears ill or a wild animal that is unusually tame, must seek medical attention immedi
Posted by Dr Lucille Blumberg | 19.12.08, 16:41 GMT
Lisa, I saw you in July for the first time in a long time. My thoughts are with you and your family at this time.
Posted by G Brown | 19.12.08, 03:23 GMT
Lisa, I met you for the first time at the Manager's Conference just a few weeks ago. You are such a lovely person and I'm thinking of you. Lee (Newbury Adoption Centre) xxx
Posted by Lee | 18.12.08, 18:40 GMT
I couldn't have said it better myself Tom. I was at school with Lisa and she is a beautiful person both inside and out. Malachy McAnespie should think of Lisa, her family and her friends at this time, and not use the opportunity to get on his soap box.
Posted by Kathleen | 18.12.08, 16:11 GMT
lisa is a cousin of mine, i have not had to pleasure of meeting but was recently connected with through facebook. i know she was keen on contacting our family and i would just like to wish her and her family all the best, i am thinking about them at this difficult time.
Posted by Jade McMurray | 18.12.08, 16:01 GMT
This is complete scaremongering! Cats are no more at risk then any other warm blooded mammal is to rabies. Also, there are no recorded cases in the UK of bat to cat transmission of rabies. Furthermore, this poor lady has been diagnosed with an African strain of the disease and the fact that she worked with cats is neither here, nor there. She obviously cares deeply about animals and your comments are highly insensitive.
Posted by Tom | 18.12.08, 15:04 GMT
We all love you Lisa and we're rooting for you. xxx
Posted by Sarah | 18.12.08, 10:19 GMT
In Your Pocket LTD would like to say how shocked we are at the news. Our thoughts are with Lisa's family at this time. We hope Lisa makes a speedy recovery.
Sinead and Heidi
Posted by Sinead | 18.12.08, 09:24 GMT
Please tell the Royal Victoria to refer to this article about medical treatment of a child in the US with rabies who SURVIVED:
http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/1031002506.html
Posted by micheailin | 17.12.08, 21:48 GMT
I was shocked to hear about Lisa's illness. We saw her at the beginning of November, she took us to Giant's Causeway and showed us parts of Belfast. Lisa is such a lovely person with so much love for many. We have her in our hearts and prayers everyday!
Posted by Lynne Venter, South Africa | 17.12.08, 16:56 GMT
22 Comments