BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS ILLNESS UPDATE – Wednesday 11th December 2019

The infecting organism from this weekend has now been identified as Campylobacter. This is a bacteria normally picked up from contaminated food / drink and the risks of transmission from person to person are incredibly small. Attached is an information sheet for further information. If you develop any symptoms please seek immediate medical attention and inform me so we can monitor ant spread. There have so far been no reported symptoms from anyone else in attendance at the weekend.

Thank you all for your support & well wishes for the staff member involved.

Jo Banks
Chief Medical Officer British Judo
Jo.banks@britishjudo.org.uk
07966454602

BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS ILLNESS UPDATE – Tuesday 10th December 2019

Thank you all for your concern and patience following the events on Sunday. The member of staff taken ill remains an in-patient and is in a stable condition. Their illness has been attributed to an acute infective colitis (infection of the large bowel). This is most likely due to a virus, and the test results to confirm the exact cause should be available hopefully tomorrow. I will update you further when we have any more information about the incubation period of the causative bug.

THE RISK TO ANYONE ATTENDING THE BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE WEEKEND REMAINS VERY SMALL. NOBODY IN CONTACT WITH THE MEMBER OF STAFF CONCERNED HAS REPORTED ANY SYMPTOMS SO FAR, INCLUDING THE MEDICAL TEAM WHO WERE OBVIOUSLY IN VERY CLOSE CONTACT.

The symptoms to look out for are:

– high temperature, shivering when you feel warm to the touch
– high heart rate or palpitations
– vomiting
– diarrhea
– abdominal pain

If you develop any of these symptoms please seek urgent medical attention and contact me as soon as you can.

Thank you all for your continuing support.

Jo Banks
Chief Medical Officer British Judo
Jo.banks@britishjudo.org.uk
07966454602

Sunday 8th December – VERY IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ THE BELOW STATEMENT FROM OUR CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

As some of you may or not be aware, a member of staff was taken ill at this weekend’s event and was taken to hospital with a presumed infection. However, at this stage it has not been confirmed what that infection is. They are currently stable and undergoing investigations.

Before I go any further, I must stress that the risks to any of you are extremely small. However, some infections are more contagious than others, so I would like to make everyone aware of any concerning symptoms to look out for.

Colds and flu are common at this time of year, so mild flu-like symptoms aren’t concerning. The symptoms to look out for include:

  • Shivering and shaking, particularly shivering when your skin feels warm to the touch
  • Vomiting and diarrhoea
  • Neck stiffness or photophobia (not wanting to look at bright lights)
  • Rashes, particularly those that don’t pass the glass test (Don’t disappear when a glass is pressed over the top of it)
  • Racing pulse or palpitations

If you develop any of these please seek medical attention, as soon as possible, advising them that you have had contact with a potential infective source.

If any of you have weakened immune systems due to other medical problems, you should be more aware of these symptoms and have a lower threshold for seeking medical attention.

When we have any further information regarding the potential nature of the infection, I will send out an email update.

PLEASE REMEMBER this is an extremely low risk and this is all precautionary.

If you have any concerns please feel free to contact me.

Jo Banks
Chief Medical Officer British Judo
Jo.banks@britishjudo.org.uk
07966454602