Amputee scientist infected at lab: I can move on now

The British scientist who contracted meningococcal disease while working in a Wellington laboratory says a new report from the Labour Department will allow her to achieve closure and rebuild her life.

Jeannette Adu-Bobie has received an apology and the Labour Department now admits that she was probably infected during her work at an Environment Science and Research laboratory in Porirua in 2005.

The about-face is made in the department's second investigation report made public today. Till now the department has maintained that it was "extremely unlikely" she contracted the disease there.

"There is no compelling evidence that this infection was contracted anywhere else," occupational health chief adviser Geraint Emrys writes in the report.

Dr Adu-Bobie has always maintained she was infected in the laboratory.

In a statement issued through her British lawyer, Dr Adu-Bobie said the new report "concludes three years of distress and brings closure ...

"At this point I believe there is nothing more to add and, I would like to continue to rebuild my life and move forward leaving the past behind."

She thanked New Zealanders for their support over the years and for the letters, cards and gifts she received while in Wellington Hospital and Hutt Hospital.

ESR could not be reached for comment last night. Its internal audit, in 2005, found nothing to suggest Dr Adu-Bobie was more likely to have contracted the disease in the lab than in the wider community.

Dr Adu-Bobie - an expert on meningococcal vaccines - had been in New Zealand only 20 days and at ESR about seven working days when she contracted meningococcal septicaemia in March 2005. She spent several months in hospital and had both legs, her left arm and the digits of her right hand amputated.

She has continued to raise concerns about laboratory safety standards in New Zealand.

Labour Department regional manager Mike Munnelly said last night that he had informed her of the department's new conclusion.

"I regret the failure of the original investigation to reach what now appears a reasonable conclusion and apologise for any distress this may have caused."

The department agreed to review the original investigation after Dr Adu-Bobie pointed out research that suggested lab workers had a higher risk of infection.

The latest investigation also took into account a report commissioned by ACC. That report concluded that the balance of probabilities "overwhelmingly" suggested she contracted the disease through her laboratory work.

Dr Emrys said the exact cause of the infection remained unknown. Like previous investigators, he had been unable to find any faults with the ESR's safety systems.

Dr Adu-Bobie's lawyer, John Miller, said her ACC claim had now been accepted. She would receive $117,000.

"But if someone said to you I'll chop off both your legs and an arm, and part of your hand, and I'll give you $117,000, you'd say `Be off with you'."

ACC would also pay $330,000 in medical costs.

THE CASE

MARCH 3 2005: Jeannette Adu-Bobie, 31, arrives in New Zealand to begin a five-month study visit at ESR's laboratory in Porirua.

MARCH 23: She falls seriously ill with meningococcal septicaemia caused by meningococcal B disease.

MAY 2005: An ESR investigation suggests Dr Adu-Bobie was no more likely to have contracted the disease within the lab than in the wider community, and says ESR took "all practicable steps for the control of biological hazards".

DECEMBER 2007: A Labour Department review finds no need for changes to the New Zealand lab standard for handling meningococcal bacteria.

JUNE 2008: Report commissioned by ACC says the balance of probabilities "overwhelmingly suggests" Dr Adu-Bobie contracted meningococcal disease from her work at the lab.

JULY 29: ACC accepts her compensation claim, worth $117,000.

AUGUST 3: Labour Department releases its review and apologises for the distress the original finding may have caused.

 

- © Fairfax NZ News