A suspected case of Ebola is being assessed in County
Donegal, the Irish Health Service Executive has said.
It is understood that the body of a recently deceased man
who had suffered what are described as Ebola-like symptoms was brought to
Letterkenny General Hospital on Thursday.
The man had recently returned from Sierra Leone.
A suspected case of Ebola is being assessed in County
Donegal, the Irish Health Service Executive has said.
It is understood that the body of a recently deceased man
who had suffered what are described as Ebola-like symptoms was brought to
Letterkenny General Hospital on Thursday.
The man had recently returned from Sierra Leone.
The HSE said tests were being carried out on the body.
It said: “The public health department was made aware
earlier today of the remains of an individual, discovered early this morning,
who had recently travelled to one of the areas in Africa affected by the
current Ebola virus disease outbreak.
“The appropriate national guidelines, in line with
international best practice, are being followed by the public health team
dealing with the situation.”
The HSE said the body had been isolated to minimise the
potential spread of any possible virus.
“Blood samples have been sent for laboratory testing to
confirm whether or not this individual had contracted Ebola virus disease,” the
statement added.
“Until a diagnosis is confirmed, and as a precautionary
measure, the individual’s remains will stay in the mortuary pending the
laboratory results which are expected late tomorrow.”
The post-mortem room at the hospital will remain sealed-off
for up to 18 hours.
Dr Darina O’Flanagan, head of the HSE health protection
surveillance centre, said; “In general, the risk of contracting Ebola virus
disease is extremely low and would involve very close personal contact with the
infected individual or their body fluids for there to be any risk at all.
“We await the outcome of the laboratory tests before we will
know whether or not this individual had contracted Ebola virus disease. The
appropriate public health guidelines are being followed at every stage in this
process as a precaution.”
The BBC’s Dublin correspondent Shane Harrison said the
results of the tests could be known “as early as Friday”.
Bbc.
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