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.

Flanked by senior Department of Health officials, Mr Varadkar told the committee the chance of an outbreak in Ireland was “very low”, in part for climate reasons.

He said 14 Irish people have been tested, all of whom were cleared, and if an outbreak happens “there will be only one or two cases”, which can be handled.

Department of Health chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, said anyone who believes they may have ebola should call their GP and not physically turn up at a clinic due to the risk of further infection.

He said all GPs should by now have received the necessary protective gear to cope with such an event, while any infected person will be taken via an “isolation pod” in an ambulance to a designated hospital.

When it was noted the national isolation unit at the Mater has just 12 beds, Dr Holohan stressed there is capacity to “ramp up” other options and that specialist Health Protection Surveillance Centre teams will be deployed as required.

However, while stressing a “catastrophic Hollywood” scenario was unlikely, Independent senator John Crown said issues remain.

The doctor said just two of the Mater unit’s 12 beds are designed for the most dangerous viruses.

He said he “knows for a fact” there is a shortage of intensive care units nationally, questioned why an exact number of available isolation beds in other areas has not been provided, and said he believed no “pressurised suits” are in placed for “hero medics” treating patients.

The IMO said public health doctor shortages and a lack of “robust” safety protocols risk problems, while emergency department & doctors said hospital overcrowding was a major concern.

A HSE spokesperson did not clarify the number of extra isolation beds other than to say they were “available” and “vary” by hospital. When asked about pressurised suits, he said the World Health Organisation did not “specify” their use.

Meanwhile, it is understood Ireland and other smaller EU countries will be dependent on larger states to help them to repatriate any citizen infected by ebola in an epidemic-hit region.

The Irish Examiner understands the issue is set to be discussed during a pan-EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday.

Some 54 Irish citizens work in the west Africa ebola hot-zone alongside aid workers also in the region, with Mr Varadkar saying he “cannot countenance” leaving any infected Irish person in an ebola-hit nation.

Since December, 4,033 people have died from ebola. The rate is predicted to hit 10,000 a week in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, by the end of year.