48 carriers of super bug still in Israeli hospitals
Pastor Dale Morgan
48 carriers of super bug still in Israeli hospitals*
Dozens still hospitalized with antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection,
which had killed at least 120 as of Tuesday; health ministry to go on
high alert
Meital Yasur-Beit Or
Forty-eight people are currently hospitalized in Israel , in danger of
succumbing to the antibiotic-resistant bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae, a
Ynet investigation revealed Wednesday.
The Health Ministry has yet to announce precise statistics regarding
the number of hospital patients currently carrying the bacteria, but a
Tuesday news report previously revealed that the bacteria has infected
some 400-500 people and already caused over 120 Israeli deaths.
Deadly Bacterium
Super bug kills dozens in hospitals across country / Meital Yasur-Beit Or
Virulent stain of bacteria believed to be cause of death of 120-200
patients in hospitals. Experts explain most of those infected were
already suffering from prior medical conditions. Health ministry says
outbreak was kept secret to avoid mass panic
Among the families of the deceased, 10 have decided to sue the
hospitals. Attorney Tal Nevo, who is representing the families along
with Anat Molson, said "these deaths could have been prevented had the
Health Ministry not hidden the facts.
"There aren't enough single rooms in the hospitals, patients are
infected quickly and, therefore, it turns out that sometimes it's safer
at home. The public must be given the right to discharge their loved
ones from the hospital," he added.
According to Nevo, the families may request that a state inquiry
committee be formed to examine the matter.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry, who before Tuesday had attempted to
keep quiet about the bacteria in order to prevent mass panic, decided
Wednesday night that it was time to move to a state of high alert.
A special medical team will be sent to monitor hospitals and ensure that
they are following procedures to prevent the spread of the bacteria.
Next Thursday, hospital directors are scheduled to meet with the Health
Ministry's director-general, to request budget increases in light of the
intensified measures.
Despite the intensified preparations, Prof. Yehuda Carmeli, the head of
the epidemiology unit at the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv,
emphasized that, while the casualty rate has been high, many of the
patients who passed away had been suffering from previous medical
conditions.