Ebola ‘ruled out’ after woman takento Mater hospital

The patient at the centre of the latest Ebola scare had only a “technical risk” of having the disease, according to informed sources.

The woman was taken by ambulance and Garda escort from west Dublin to the Mater hospital yesterday, having complained of fever symptoms following a recent visit to Nigeria.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday declared Nigeria officially free of Ebola, after no new cases presented in the past 42 days.

The change of status took effect from midday at the WHO’s Geneva headquarters, as preparations were being made to transfer the patient at the centre of the scare to the National Isolation Unit at the Dublin hospital.

A patient is regarded as having some risk of having the virus if they present with a fever having returned within 21 days from an area affected by Ebola. Nigeria reported 19 cases of the disease in a population of 170 million.

A hospital spokeswoman confirmed the woman had been admitted and was assessed as “low risk” for Ebola, but shortly after the HSE issued a statement saying this had been ruled out.

Cordoned off

Streets surrounding the hospital were cordoned off for more than two hours, according to the Garda press office.

A spokesman said gardaí were asked by the HSE to assist in an operation. He referred further questions to the HSE.

A HSE spokesman said the streets around the hospital were not cordoned off at its behest.

The HSE statement said it “must, and does, take each Ebola scenario seriously no matter how low the risk”.

All appropriate infection control procedures were being taken by all relevant healthcare personnel. "There are no known cases of Ebola in Ireland presently. The overall risk of a case of Ebola being brought into Ireland is low."

Fianna Fáil councillor David McGuinness called for calm after news emerged of the suspected case in his area in west Dublin. The public need clarity over the circumstances surrounding the case, he said.

"Tyrrelstown has a high population of families with links to western Africa. This is a very serious incident which will have a significant impact on the public.

"I am calling for calm and a campaign of public information to offset any panic in Dublin West. "

Last August, tests were carried out for the virus in Co Donegal after a man who had been working in Sierra Leone was found dead. Following tests, the HSE confirmed that laboratory samples proved negative.

The Department of Foreign Affairs says there are fewer than 100 registered Irish citizens in the countries affected by Ebola – Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Meanwhile, Belgium yesterday became the third EU country to introduce screening of passengers travelling from Ebola-affected areas.

The virus has claimed more than 4,500 lives in the worst-affected countries.

The WHO estimates there will be up to 10,000 new cases of Ebola per week by December.