"Isolation Procedures Put In Place" After Ebola Suspect Dies In Ireland; Ebola-Like Disease Claims 70 In Congo

Last week Ireland rushed to deny that a man with Ebola-like symptoms  who was being tested in Dublin, did not have the disease. It may find such a refutation more difficult this time after Irish Times reported  that a man was found dead last night in Donegal, after working in Sierra Leone, the epicenter of the current Ebola outbreak, and where "it is understood that a number of colleagues had contracted the virus." The deceased was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital where the HSE is carrying out tests to see whether the death resulted from Ebola.

In a statement, the HSE said it was currently assessing a suspected case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Donegal.

“The public health department was made aware earlier today of the remains of an individual, discovered early this morning, who had recently travelled to the one of the areas in Africa affected by the current Ebola virus disease outbreak,” it said.

“The appropriate national guidelines, in line with international best practice, are being followed by the public health team dealing with the situation. This means that the body of the deceased has been isolated to minimise the potential spread of any possible virus.”

The statement said blood samples had been sent for laboratory testing to confirm whether or not this individual had contracted Ebola virus disease.

“Until a diagnosis is confirmed, and as a precautionary measure, the individual’s remains will stay in the mortuary pending the laboratory results which are expected late tomorrow.”

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