asked the Minister for Health if the Department of Health in the UK notified his Department regarding their concern that a contact with Lassa fever had travelled to this country about 10th January, 1975.
234.
Written Answers. - Lassa Fever Contact.
233.
asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the delay in the notification to his Department concerning the arrival in this country of a contact of Lassa fever on 10th January, 1975, he will make representation to the World Health Organisation to ensure that this delay does not recur.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together. Health authorities in Great Britain work in close liaison with health authorities in this country and with my Department. In the recent case of a contact of Lassa fever, difficulty arose in deciphering an address on a passenger list and this caused a delay in the matter coming to notice. In the above circumstances the delay on this particular occasion was not one in relation to which it is felt that representations to the World Health Organisation would be necessary but the substance of the point made by the Deputy, namely the desirability of ensuring as far as possible through the auspices of the World Health Organisation that rapid communication of information on an international basis is achieved, will certainly be borne in mind.