Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 November 2014
424. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding this country's ability to contain an outbreak of Ebola; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43253/14]
View answerAs of 5 November 2014, the cumulative number of cases attributed to Ebola stands at 13,042, including 4,818 deaths. The European Centres for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), in its latest risk assessment has concluded that the risk of a case in the EU is considered to be low; however the increase in cases in the affected countries means that the risk of a case being imported into Europe has increased. Environmental conditions in Ireland however do not support the natural reservoirs or vectors of any of the viruses that cause VHF. Consequently, the risk of transmission of Ebola in Ireland is considered very low. The HSE has confirmed that there have been no confirmed cases of Ebola in Ireland.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is the forum for managing the interface between the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive during the planning and response phases of a public health emergency. NPHET has met five times since 10 October to coordinate health services response. It now intends to meet every two weeks reflecting the greater level of preparedness that has been put in place in recent weeks.
The EVD Coordination group meets to coordinate preparedness on cross-sectoral issues. It includes representatives from a number of Government Departments and State agencies. It has met eleven times since 15 August. The EVD Transport Sub-group, which coordinates preparedness in the transport sector, is meeting regularly to resolve issues at ports and airports.
The HSE has developed a communications strategy for dealing with Ebola. It was developed in the context of the media protocol developed in conjunction with the Government Information Service. It will be regularly updated as the situation evolves and lessons learned.
The HSE has established a cross directorate group to fast track the training of front line health care staff. Additionally the Acute Hospitals Directorate has established an Ebola response management group to increase preparedness across all Hospitals
All hospitals have been instructed to have on-going training in PPE, targeting specific groups. An assessment on training and deadlines for training completion was completed by all hospitals and is being analysed to guide the development of training.
Extensive information has been provided for hospital clinicians, general practitioners and other healthcare workers, to enable rapid identification of suspected Ebola patients, in other settings, and their urgent management by the Health Protection and Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
A number of hospitals have or are planning shortly to undertake simulation exercises, building on the recent exercise held by the National Isolation Unit in the Mater Misericordiae Hospital.
An interagency exercise is being planned based on exercises undertaken in other EU countries. This will be tailored to improving preparedness in the Irish context.
The HSE has distributed has Emerging Viral Threats pack sent to all GPs, Co-ops and Balseskin refugee centre GPs. The PPE contained in the distributed packs continues to be fit for purpose.
The HSE is liaising with the airports and ports to provide information for staff, including holding information sessions. The HPSC has published guidance for Airport Managers and Airlines, Port Managers and for educational settings. It is also liaising with the Revenue Commissioners concerning guidance for customs officers. The HPSC have produced specific information for travellers and people who have returned recently form affected areas. Advices have also been produced for people intending to work with aid agencies in the affected countries. Information posters have also been produced, and are on display in airports. Advices have also been produced for airports and ports and for educational settings.
The National Isolation Unit (NIU) located at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin, is the national referral centre for high risk suspected and confirmed cases of Ebola. The self-contained unit has 12 beds and is designed to admit, isolate and treat patients suspected or diagnosed with highly infectious diseases that are referred from all over Ireland who have both hazardous and highly infectious diseases. There are no plans to treat Ebola cases in other acute hospitals.
In Ireland, all VHF diagnostic tests will be carried out in the BioSafety Level 3 facility at the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL), Dublin.
All elements of the Irish response to date are based on best practice and take account of national and international best practice, and will be reviewed when new information becomes available as the situation evolves. My Department continues to work closely with the HSE, other government departments, the WHO, the ECDC, the EU Commission, Member States and other partners to coordinate measures to tackle the Ebola epidemic and to protect Irish citizens.
