Two new suspected cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) have been recorded at a Dublin hospital as fears over the mystery virus continue to spread.
St James's Hospital confirmed yesterday that two patients, believed to be of Asian origin, were being treated as suspected cases "as a purely precautionary" measure. The results of blood tests will establish whether the patients have been infected.
In a separate development, health boards in the eastern area are purchasing masks for distribution to GPs who may have to deal with suspected SARS cases in the future.
New public information notices advising airline passengers of the symptoms associated with the virus have been put up at airport arrival halls.
To date, only one "probable" case has been recorded in the State; that of a man who was treated at, and subsequently discharged from, Mayo General Hospital after returning from a trip to south-east Asia.
Fears over the virus, however, have been heightened by the death of seven more people in Hong Kong, and the confirmation yesterday of 40 new cases there.
More than 3,300 people have now been infected worldwide, and more than 140 have died.
The new airport notices, in English, French and German, were distributed by the National Disease Surveillance Centre (NDSC) ahead of the start of strike action yesterday by public health doctors, including those attached to the agency.
Precautionary guidelines have also been circulated to airlines recommending how they should deal with suspected SARS cases.
The Department of Health and Children has advised people not to undertake "non-essential" travel to SARS-affected areas, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Hanoi in Vietnam, Toronto in Canada, and Guangdong, Shanxi, Taiwan and Beijing in China.
A spokeswoman for the Department said the situation was under review by an expert group, comprising the NDSC and public-health managers.
Aer Rianta said all airlines had been issued with guidelines recommending that any passenger showing symptoms of SARS be isolated and taken to hospital, and all other passengers advised appropriately.
As to whether other measures, such as screening, would be introduced, a spokeswoman for Aer Rianta said: "Ultimately, it is up to the Department to decide, and whatever they decide we will comply with fully."
Aer Lingus has only had to deal with one suspected case to date, that of a passenger on a flight between London Heathrow and Cork last month.
A spokeswoman for the airline said its chief medical officer was reviewing the situation daily, although "we are considered low risk as we are not flying to or from the affected areas". The virus has dealt a major blow to a number of Asian-based airlines, particularly Cathay Pacific, which yesterday said passenger numbers were down one-third on last year.
Media reports put the figure as high as 80 per cent, however, with demand for tickets to and from Cathay's base in Hong Kong collapsing.
Aer Lingus said yesterday it had not seen any fall in traffic.
Meanwhile, two companies in Derry with business links to the Far and Middle East have banned their employees from travelling to those areas.
Desmond and Sons Clothing Manufacturers, which has partnership factories in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and Seagate Technologies, which makes components for the computer industry, have put travel restrictions on employees planning to go to Asia.