The nursing sister being treated for an arena virus is still in a serious condition while her colleagues at the Morningside Medi-Clinic are hoping she will make a turn for the better soon.

"We are hopeful that the turning point will come at the end of the week. We have hope," said spokeswoman Melinda Pelser.

She is being cared for by a team of health care workers who Pelser described as "very dedicated".

They work under strict supervision to ensure they comply with the highest levels of infection control in an isolation unit.

This involves wearing protective clothing that resembles a space suit, goggles and a double layer of protective gloves to prevent transmission of the virus which is believed to have led to the deaths of three people before it was identified.

The medical team in direct contact with her dress and undress under the supervision of a "buddy", Pelser explained.

She said that after the initial scare of a "mystery" virus, patients at the private clinic panicked, but she said that had abated.

During the crisis, the clinic also cancelled its business with a company contracted to dispose of its medical waste - after it was unable to produce a certificate to prove that the waste had indeed been disposed of.

With health department intervention the clinic has since hired another company and it has incinerated the waste which was found to have been kept in storage.

The nursing sister was admitted earlier in October after developing symptoms of a virus which is believed to have caused the deaths of three other people treated at the clinic.

A paramedic and another nursing sister are believed to have contracted it initially from a South African woman flown in from Zambia for treatment.

The 94 people who may have come into contact with the three are still being monitored.

Sapa