Nation ‘can cope with an outbreak of ebola’

Senior health officials have insisted Ireland can cope with an ebola outbreak — despite doctors warning of glaring gaps in our defences against the lethal virus.

Speaking at an emergency health committee meeting on the growing ebola crisis, and as a plane was grounded in Madrid over fears an infected patient is on board, Health Minister Leo Varadkar moved to “reassure the public Ireland is prepared”.

However, while accepting there is unlikely to be a “catastrophic Hollywood” outbreak scenario here, doctors raised concerns over isolation unit bed numbers, staff shortages and equipment gaps, all of which have yet to be fully clarified.