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The brave woman stricken by rabies
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
A joy to work with: Lisa McMurray was a familiar face at the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau.
enlargeThis is the woman who is fighting for her life in a Belfast hospital after contracting the deadly rabies virus.
Lisa McMurray, who is understood to be in her 30s, was last night described as being in a “critical condition”.
Ms McMurray, who is from the greater Belfast area, was initially treated at the Ulster Hospital but later transferred to the Royal Victoria.
She had been abroad but began to feel unwell after being home for a number of months.
On Monday night following further tests, the Eastern Board confirmed she has rabies.
Last night friends and former colleagues said they had been left “completely shocked” by the news.
Ms McMurray had previously worked in the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau in the city centre.
But she moved jobs a few months ago to work for the Cats Protection NI Adoption Centre in Dundonald.
Former Lord Mayor of Belfast Jim Rodgers, who worked closely with Ms McMurray on council projects, said she is a “lovely girl” who was a joy to work with.
“She was always a joy and a pleasure to work with and we became good friends.
“So people who know Lisa are absolutely devastated. She is a lovely girl and people hold her in the highest esteem.
“She worked very closely with me when I was Lord Mayor regarding the rebranding of Belfast. She did sterling work.”
Ms McMurray then left to become the centre manager at the cat adoption centre.
Mr Rodgers added: “I remember discussing with her about the move and the reason was that she wanted a career change and always had that ambition to work with animals — she simply adored animals.
“It is a very tough time for those who know and care for Lisa.
“My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.”
Ms McMurray’s family have not spoken publicly about the diagnosis.
In a statement issued by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust on Monday the family asked the media to respect their privacy. It is believed this is the first case in Northern Ireland for 70 years.
The Eastern Board said there is no risk to other patients or visitors, and all its services are continuing as normal.
It added that “all necessary steps” on infection control are in place for the protection of staff.
Health travel advice remains readily available to people through their GP and travel health clinics.
Humans generally suffer from a fever before slipping into a coma, but there is no risk of sufferers spreading the disease to others.
The deadly disease affects the central nervous system but can be prevented through a vaccination programme.
A spokesman for the Eastern Board said it was leading a multi-agency investigation into the matter. The board and its partner agencies are taking national expert advice from the Health Protection Agency and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency.
While rabies remains a very rare illness in the UK, there are around 70,000 cases in humans in other parts of the world each year, and people should remain vigilant of the risk from both rabies and other serious vaccine-preventable diseases, particularly in many parts of Africa, Asia and South America.
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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