Joint statement by the Department of Health and Children, National Disease Surveillance Centre and Eastern Regional Health Authority
The Eastern Regional Health Authority's Department of Public Health is today (24 March 2002) investigating a probable case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in a person who has recently returned on a flight from South East Asia and who has shown symptoms similar to those of the disease.
The Western Health Board's Department of Public Health is continuing to investigate a probable case of SARS in a person who has recently returned on a flight from South East Asia and who has shown symptoms similar to those of the disease. The patient is still in hospital but is stable and improving.
The ERHA and the Western Health Board will continue to closely monitor the situation in cooperation with health professionals and the NDSC.
The expert group established by Mr Micheal Martin TD, Minister for Health and Children will continue to advise him of any further measures which may need to be taken as the situation develops.
The symptoms of SARS are a temperature of over 38°C, flu-like symptoms and a cough. This is relevant only to people who have been in the affected areas. The advice to the general public remains as before: people travelling to affected areas in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore and Guandong Province in China should be aware of the symptoms and seek medical advice should they become unwell during their trip or within 10 days of leaving the area.
The NDSC, in collaboration with Departments of Public Health throughout the country, continues to conduct surveillance of SARS in Ireland.
Both suspect SARS cases de-notified
The Department of Health and Children, the National Disease Surveillance Centre and the Eastern Regional Heath Authority today (Thursday) announced that both patients under investigation in Dublin for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) have been de-notified to the World Health Organisation as suspect cases.
It is now considered that there have been no cases of SARS in Ireland.
The expert group established by Mr Micheal Martin TD, Minister for Health and Children will continue to meet, monitor and advise as necessary.
The symptoms of SARS are a temperature of over 38°C, flu-like symptoms and a cough. This is relevant only to people who have been in the affected areas. The advice to the general public remains as before: people travelling to affected areas in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore and Guandong Province in China should be aware of the symptoms and seek medical advice should they become unwell during their trip or within 10 days of leaving the area.
The NDSC continues to conduct surveillance of SARS in Ireland.
Joint statement by the Department of Health and Children, National Disease Surveillance Centre and Western Health Board
In response to advice from the World Health Organisation, Ireland, in common with most countries, has been investigating illness in people who have travelled in areas affected by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
The Western Health Board's Department of Public Health is investigating a probable case of SARS in a person who has recently returned on a flight from South East Asia and who has shown symptoms similar to those of the disease.
The WHB will continue to closely monitor the situation in co-operation with health professionals and the NDSC.
The expert group established by Mr Micheal Martin TD, Minister for Health and Children continues to monitor the situation and will advise him of any further measures which may need to be taken as the situation develops.
The NDSC and the Department have developed and disseminated guidance to hospitals and professionals in the health services describing this syndrome and offering advice as to how suspected cases should be dealt with.
The symptoms of SARS are a temperature of over 38°C, flu-like symptoms and a cough. This is relevant only to people who have been in the affected areas. The advice to the general public remains as before: people travelling to affected areas in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore and Guandong Province in China should be aware of the symptoms and seek medical advice should they become unwell during their trip or within 10 days of leaving the area.
The NDSC, in collaboration with Departments of Public Health throughout the country, continues to conduct surveillance of SARS in Ireland.
Joint statement by the Department of Health, National Disease Surveillance Centre and Eastern Regional Health Authority
Ireland, in common with most countries, has been investigating illness in people who have travelled in areas affected by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The patient who was admitted to a Dublin hospital over the weekend is comfortable and is continuing to receive treatment. Preliminary reports have been received that an additional patient has been admitted to another Dublin hospital with some symptoms similar to SARS and is currently undergoing investigation.
Mr Micheal Martin TD, minister for Health and Children, has established an expert group to monitor the situation and to advise him of any further measures which may need to be taken as the situation develops. The group had its first meeting this morning and will continue to meet, monitor and advise as necessary.
The symptoms of SARS are a temperature of over 38°C, flu-like symptoms and a cough. This is relevant only to people who have been in the affected areas. The advice to the general public remains as before: people travelling to affected areas in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore and Guandong Province in China should be aware of the symptoms and seek medical advice should they become unwell during their trip or within 10 days of leaving the area.
Dublin hospital investigating suspect case of SARS
The Department of Health and Children and the National Disease Surveillance Centre have this evening (18 March 2003) confirmed that a Dublin hospital is investigating a suspect case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
A person, who recently returned on a flight from South East Asia has shown mild symptoms similar to those of the disease, but is otherwise well and is continuing to receive treatment.
The ERHA's Department of Public Health is investigating the case, and will continue to closely monitor the situation in co-operation with the hospital and the NDSC. The investigation follows a global alert by the World Health Organisation at the weekend about outbreaks of SARS in East and South East Asia.
The NDSC and the Department have developed and disseminated guidance to hospitals and professionals in the health services describing this syndrome and offering advice as to how suspected cases should be dealt with. The Minister, Mr Micheal Martin, has established an expert group to monitor the situation and to advise him of any further measures which may need to be taken as the situation develops. The group will have its first meeting tomorrow at 10am.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS):
The National Disease Surveillance Centre today (Monday) issued advice to travellers and health professionals following the identification of 150 cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) - a severe form of pneumonia - in South East Asia and Canada.
The areas where outbreaks have occurred include Hong Kong , the Guangdong province of China, Toronto and Vancouver in Canada, Singapore and Hanoi in Vietnam
"There is a slight possibility that people living in, or visiting Ireland, could have been in contact with the disease, while visiting these countries. The Department of Health and Children and the National Disease Surveillance Centre are providing guidance for healthcare professionals to assist them in identifying and managing suspect cases, and in reducing the likelihood of spread of SARS should it appear in Ireland," said NDSC Director, Dr Darina O'Flanagan.
"Travellers who have been to any of the affected areas need not be unduly concerned. At present, it appears that the risk of illness is very low even in the affected areas. However, if you become ill with flu-like symptoms - such as fever, aching muscles, headache, sore throat, cough and shortness of breath - within 10 days of returning from one of the affected areas, you should contact your doctor.
"At the moment, the only treatment is to ensure that the patient has sufficient fluids and to assist breathing if they are having breathing difficulties. Not enough is known about the cause of SARS at present to be more specific about treatment, but this may change as the results of ongoing investigations become available.
"It is likely that it is spread by direct contact with an ill person or by an ill person sneezing or coughing. Up to now, the majority of cases have occurred in people who have had very close contact with other cases such as family members or healthcare workers looking after patients with SARS. It may take between 3 and 10 days to show symptoms of illness after having been exposed.
"There is international concern that this illness has spread quite quickly.It is also worrying that no cause has yet been found for this illness. As a result, clinicians, hospitals and laboratories have been alerted to look for this condition, especially if there has been a history of travel to the areas affected. Early identification of any cases will mean that the possibility of spread is reduced and that medical care can be started as soon as possible. A national group of experts who will advise the Minister of Health and Children on the situation is being established."
