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A PATIENT AT a Belfast hospital is being tested for Ebola.
A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Public Health Agency confirmed the development this afternoon.
According to the agency, the person had recently been in an Ebola-affected country, and is now being assessed, in line with policy.
“The PHA is liaising with colleagues and has advised that there is no increased risk to the wider community,” a statement said.
It adds…
It is important to note that the likelihood of contracting EVD is extremely low unless the person had come into contact with blood or body fluids of a symptomatic person. Therefore we would like to stress that the risk to the public is low.
The patient, who is being treated at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, tested positive for Malaria, and an Ebola test is being done as a precautionary measure.
A further update will be given by the PHA when results are available.
Preparations
Health authorities in the North carried out a major exercise last month to prepare for a possible case of the disease.
Senior doctors and other medical professionals from the region’s five health trusts took part, along with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.
Speaking afterwards, the PHA’s Dr Lorraine Doherty said that “robust and practical plans” were in place to deal with Ebola in the event that someone presents with the illness.
Similar exercises took place in the Republic — with the Gardaí, fire service, and the HSE carrying out a simulated admission to the Mater Hospital’s National Isolation Unit.
Mater
Just under three weeks ago Ebola was ruled out in the case of a woman treated at the northside Dublin hospital, after she was deemed to be displaying symptoms that require further testing.
“The overall risk of a case of Ebola being brought into in Ireland is low,” the HSE said in a statement at the time.
“If a case is confirmed in Ireland, the primary concerns will be treatment of the patient and containing the situation. An important concern is maintaining medical confidentiality, and supporting the patient’s family and identifying any possible contacts.
“Should any case of Ebola Virus be confirmed in Ireland, a statement will issue.
“This statement would be released in the event that a diagnosis is confirmed and necessary controls have been put in place.”
First posted at 4pm.
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So we just roll over and accept generations of debt ?
Best to just take the pain now and get it over with.. quiet inevitable sadly.
A unilateral default = slashing public sector wages and social welfare by a third overnight. There’d be riots on the streets with the likes of Eirigi taking their opportunity as the ‘blue flue’ strikes the Gardai.
I kind of understand why no sensible politician is so quick to jump for that option.
think Ireland should still back out of undeerwriting the banks – yes this would set of another bust , but we are so bust now and for years to come overall it won’t make that much difference. Write off the banks and start again, with a new bank that the citizens can trust, is run transparently and with new employment contracts, no bonuses, limited higher limit earnings etc. – You know like any other job !
Great idea of course but it’ll never happen.. The political leadership ofthis country are so frightened of l appearing to rock the European boat that they’ll do exactly what they are told like good little paddys..as for noonan saying senior bondholders are to receive a haircut this is either an attempt to bluff an interest rate cut from the troika or cynical attempt to garner some positive publicity for the hundred day milestone fg set for themselves..now they wouldn’t do that would they??
The power of money is imense and if the citizens remove thier own personal money – I know businesses can’t do this, but ordinary citizens can take thier money out of the accounts, this would make the government listen to its people – a run on the banks would be benefitical to citizens in closing these still banks and ensuring a new banking systems starts. The solution is not always in the sole hands of the government.
have your say