Update on public health issues related to the Polonium-210 incident
30 December 2006
The figures and location updates included in this release are the latest available at 4pm today (NOV 30) unless otherwise stated
The Health Protection Agency is continuing to provide expert advice on the public health issues surrounding the death of Mr Alexander Litvinenko.
Small quantities of radioactive material ( Polonium-210) were initially found in a small number of areas at three locations in London . The Agency is also aware of other venues where police have been continuing their investigations and where there traces of contamination have been confirmed. The Agency will monitor all locations identified by the police as part of their investigations to assess whether there is any public health risk.
Update
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Millennium Hotel - in the key public areas there is no significant risk to public health
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7 Down Street and 25 and 58 Grosvenor Street - in the key public areas there is no significant risk to public health
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Sheraton Hotel, Park Lane - in the key public areas there is no significant risk to public health
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Barnet and University College London Hospitals - both checked for contamination and HPA is satisfied there is no contamination that would pose a public health risk. All these areas are now open for normal activities and to the public and staff
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British Airways plane - G-BZHA at Heathrow - overall the HPA does not believe passengers on this plane were at risk over the past month
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British Airways plane - G-BNWX at Heathrow - monitoring is continuing on this plane. Further information will be issued as available
The Health Protection Agency wants to reassure members of the public that the risk of having been exposed to this substance remains low. It can only represent a radiation hazard if it is taken into the body - by breathing it in, by taking it into the mouth, or if it gets into a wound. It is not a radiological hazard as long as it remains outside the body. Most traces of it can be eliminated through handwashing, or washing machine and dishwasher cycles for clothes, plates etc.
Our advice remains to members of the public that anyone who was in the Itsu restaurant or who was in The Pine Bar or the restaurant of the Millennium Hotel, on 1 November should contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
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As of midnight Wed, Nov 29 the NHS Direct had received 1707 calls since HPA advice was issued on Sat (Nov 25)
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Of these - at 4pm today - the HPA has followed up 139 people who it was assessed should be investigated further
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The total number people - as of 4pm today - referred as a precaution to a specialist outpatient assessment clinic for possible radiological exposure assessment is now 24 (22 from NHS Direct and 2 via other routes)
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As of 11am today 238 healthcare workers needed to be assessed to determine whether they had been at potential risk of contamination. These assessments have been made and as a precaution 53 healthcare staff have been asked to provide urine samples for testing
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As of 11am today a further 140 people - staff or visitors to the various locations under police investigation - have been asked by the Health Protection Agency to provide urine samples
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Of the urine samples tested as of 4pm today by the Agency 29 found nothing of concern. The Agency has been contacting these people today to inform them of their results
This clinic is a specialist assessment clinic set up for patients reporting symptoms that potentially could have been caused by radiation exposure. This is to rule out radiation exposure as a cause of their symptoms. They will be referred for appropriate treatment for any other conditions which are picked up. Patients at the specialist outpatient assessment clinic will be asked to complete a questionnaire, be assessed by a doctor and further tests will be carried out if they are considered necessary. Results of any tests taken will be made available to these patients - this should be within a week of receiving their samples.
The police investigation continues. We will provide further public information as appropriate.
Notes to Editors:
1. The HPA advice is that anyone who was in the Itsu restaurant, or who was in The Pine Bar or the restaurant of the Millennium Hotel on 1 November should contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 where they will be given advice on what to do.
2. If you are an overseas visitor and were in the Itsu restaurant, or The Pine Bar or the restaurant of the Millennium Hotel on 1 November you should email the Health Protection Agency for advice: overseasadvice@hpa.org.uk. If you do not have access to email you can contact NHS Direct on 00 (44) 845 4647 but only via a mobile telephone if you are calling from abroad. (If this does not connect you please try 0845 46 47 instead - again only from a mobile)
3. Further information is available on www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk and www.hpa.org.uk
4. Media enquiries to HPA London press office on 020 7759 2824 or the HPA CRCE press office on 01235 822 678. If you are calling out of hours please use 020 8200 4400.
Last reviewed: 17 December 2007