FOUND: SCOTLAND’S PATIENT ZERO
Rugby fan who got virus in Italy is tracked down
THE first person in Scotland to be diagnosed with coronavirus, known as Patient Zero, has been tracked down by scientists.
The fit and healthy 51-year-old man had travelled to Italy to watch rugby in February, before touring Lombardy and other regions.
The news comes as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon disclosed that the number of patients with coronavirus on Scotland’s intensive care wards has soared to 51 – with deaths from the infection now at 22.
Patient Zero returned to Scotland via Milan – which lies in the heart of the first area in Italy to be locked down as the virus spread rapidly.
The patient, who has not been named, contacted the NHS by phone after coming down with a fever and a cough when he arrived home.
It took three days for the authorities to identify that he had Covid19, as he was treated by medics at NHS Lothian’s Regional Infectious Diseases Unit. The scientific study found that the case highlighted the need for ‘early isolation’.
The medics reported: ‘The patient remained in self-isolation in the community whilst awaiting the results of SARS-CoV-2 PCR which was performed in the West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre on a combined nose/throat swab. This sample tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
‘An urgent teleconference was held between virology, public health, Scottish ambulance service and the receiving regional High Consequence Infectious Diseases (HCID) unit.
‘The patient was subsequently transferred by Special Operations Response Team ambulance to the HCID unit.’
Patient Zero had seen Scotland beat Italy 17-0 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on February 22 in the Six Nations tournament.
Authorities identified the patient as a ‘possible’ case because he had also been in the ‘high risk’ northern area of Italy during his week-long break.
The following day the NHS organised a test to be carried out and a positive diagnosis was made the following day. The study, published in the Journal of Infection, does not name the man but it says he travelled to Italy with his partner and a friend before contacting the NHS in Scotland.
The group had watched the rugby in Rome before driving a hired car through Italian regions that were subsequently ravaged by the virus, including Lombardy, Venice and Tuscany. The trio stayed in private accommodation before coming home. They flew home from Milan and were unaware they came into contact with any sick people.
However, two days after arriving back, the man – a lifelong nonsmoker – developed a fever and sinusitis which progressed to a cough. The study found he had no real health problems and had continued to exercise while in self-isolation. It said: ‘His medical history consisted only of hypertension.
‘He had no known underlying lung disease. He took an ACEinhibitor and self-medicated with paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during his illness.’
After eight days in hospital the man was discharged.
The study says: ‘The public health guidance at the time of this case was that travellers to Veneto and Lombardy were considered at risk. The patient had travelled to these areas but in private transport, staying in the area briefly and having limited interactions with residents.
‘Therefore, whilst fulfilling “at risk” criteria, from a practical perspective the risk seemed low.’
The study concluded: ‘This case highlights the need to have a low index of suspicion for diagnosis of Covid-19 and for early isolation.’
This case was first revealed on March 2 but this is the first time more details have been disclosed.
Initially it was only known that the patient was from Tayside and was being treated in Edinburgh.
Health protection teams tested those in close contact with him including the rugby trip party.
It is not known if anyone in his party subsequently got sick.
The first death in Scotland was reported as a French father who had travelled to Scotland to see France take on Scotland at rugby.
Meanwhile, the First Minister announced the number of coronavirus deaths in the country has risen by six from Tuesday’s total of 16 to 22.
Scotland’s first case of Covid-19 was confirmed on March 2, and since then the number of people testing positive has risen to 719.
Speaking at a briefing yesterday, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘As of last night there were 51 patients with Covid or suspected Covid symptoms in our intensive care units.
‘I am sharing that information to demonstrate and underline how serious this virus can be and why the measures that we are asking people to follow are so important.
‘Of course, that is a number that we would expect to see rise in the days and weeks to come and that underlines the importance of the work that is being done to increase the capacity of our NHS.’
‘Highlights need for early isolation’