Ruby Princess passengers in new health scare after COVID-19 outbreak
Ruby Princess passengers have been dealt another blow, with NSW Health confirming a crew member has tested positive for tuberculosis. Henry Karpick would not survive another infectious disease after nearly dying once contracting COVID-19 on the ship. READ THE LETTER
NSW
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The family of a desperately ill Ruby Princess passenger are on tenterhooks after NSW Health confirmed a crew member on the ill-fated ship is in hospital being treated for tuberculosis.
Jacqui Grace said her father Henry Karpik — who contracted COVID-19 on the cruise ship and spent weeks on life support — would not survive another infectious disease.
Passengers of the ill-fated March 8 to March 19 cruise were sent a letter from Health Prevention NSW communicable diseases assistant director Christine Selvey informing them of the shock diagnosis.
It follows a deadly outbreak of COVID-19 aboard the cruiseliner, which resulted in almost 700 cases and more than a dozen deaths.
Dr Selvey reassured passengers that they were at “low risk” of contracting TB.
“The people who may be at risk of infection include some hospital staff, roommates, close friends and workmates,” she said.
“The crew member is currently a patient currently being treated at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, and was diagnosed many weeks after you were on the cruise.”
The Sydney Local Health District is screening RPA staff, patients and other crew members as a precaution. A spokeswoman said all crew members involved had been notified.
Dr Selvey said passengers were not required to take any action or needed to be screened.
Ms Grace said her parents had not yet received any letter but she was hearing the news through the media.
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“How can they say in the letter that it’s ‘low risk’ as the crew member has only just tested positive,” she said.
“The test takes four to ten weeks sometimes up to 15 weeks after exposure to even get a positive test.
“So if they tested when the crew member got off the boat then they would have tested negative.
“It’s now been 11 weeks since dad got off that boat along with every other passenger. It’s highly contagious in crowded situations and can remain airborne for hours and spread through air conditioning.
“So why say ‘low risk’ when infection period was in the last 11 weeks. NSW Health also framed the Ruby Princess ‘low risk’ on March 8 and look how great that turned out for NSW.”
Originally published as Ruby Princess passengers in new health scare after COVID-19 outbreak
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