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Ebola via Shutterstock

There has been a "very, very small" number of suspect Ebola cases in Ireland

The HSE said it would not be providing information on other cases – but that there had been a “handful” of investigations apart from the Donegal death.

DOCTORS IN IRISH hospitals have examined a “very, very small” number of patients for the Ebola virus, but so far a blood test has been deemed necessary in just one instance: the examination of telecoms worker Dessie Quinn, who died in Donegal last week.

A spokesperson for the HSE told TheJournal.ie this afternoon that it would not be providing geographical or other potential information in relation to suspected cases.

Speaking at the weekend, HSE Assistant National Director of Health Protection Kevin Kelleher said there had been ”a small handful of cases” that had got to the point of “needing or maybe needing testing”.

Speaking to RTÉ, he said there were “a number of other instances where people would have returned from west Africa” and “there would have been investigations”.

They would have got so far and not got to the point of needing to have a blood test.

“We have quite a lot of communication with west Africa. There is always likely to be people coming back still who might then feel unwell and then we go through the process with them.”

Kelleher said that doctors examining someone returning from the region would ask a range of questions to determine their activity.

“If they just stay in hotels and had no contact with people, and no contact with people who are sick, then its almost impossible for them to catch the disease.”

The HSE confirmed on Friday that blood tests carried out on the body of Dessie Quinn had proved negative for Ebola.

Quinn, who had recently returned back from a period working in Sierra Leone, was found dead on Thursday morning. He had been treated in recent weeks for Malaria.

More than 1,400 people have died in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone since the start of the year in the deadliest outbreak yet of the disease. Several patients who contracted the virus in west Africa have been also been taken home for treatment in the US and the UK.

There have been no cases in Ireland.

AFP news agency / YouTube

First recorded in Africa in 1976, Ebola is one of the world’s most virulent diseases.

The virus is spread, via direct contact through broken skin or mucous membranes, with the blood or other bodily fluids of infected people.

Scientists confirmed the first cases in the current outbreak back in March, and so far Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are the nations worst affected.

Nigerian officials said today that two more people had been released from isolation after recovering from Ebola, leaving only one living patient with the disease in the country.

Meanwhile, a British nurse infected while working in Sierra Leone is being given the same experimental drug used on two US missionaries who have recovered from the disease, according to doctors in London.

William Pooley, 29, is being treated with ZMapp after being flown out of Sierra Leone on a specially-equipped British military plane on Sunday.

Two US missionaries, Dr Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, who were treated in the US city of Atlanta before leaving hospital last week, were also treated with ZMapp.

Read What is Ebola?

Read US doctor who contracted Ebola in Liberia to be released from hospital

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39 Comments
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    Mute Sat Nav Maps
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 5:01 PM

    Ireland’s forgotten town

    117
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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 5:36 PM

    Totally down trodden by Louth Co Co since the seat of power for the town / city was removed. Time to hand back control of the town to Drogheda!!

    79
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    Mute Alan McDonagh
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 6:36 PM

    @Ollie Fitzpatrick: Who removed the seat of power from Drogheda??

    6
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    Mute Jack Boardman
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 6:58 PM

    @Ollie Fitzpatrick: when BD site opened I was excavator operator do all foundation there I been from rush Co Dublin alderman Moore kicked up that I should not be employed as I leaved out side and treating close the site if it continued but guess what never happened it’s sad to hearing news off closure Jackie

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 8:04 PM

    @Jack Boardman: Wow have you ever heard of spelling and grammar?

    28
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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 8:31 PM

    @Jack Boardman: For listeners of Pj and Jim on radio nova, I think we might have found the bomber?. Jack’s comment is exactly how Pj describes the bombers text.

    4
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    Mute Marie Agnew
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 9:20 PM

    @Ollie Fitzpatrick: Seat of power!! No town has more power than any other town, yes Drogheda has gone downhill, but god knows Dundalk has suffered it’s fair share of hardships over the decades being so close and in competition with the border. Dundalk thrives better now because Newry has been decimated and shoppers no longer travel cross border

    7
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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 10:07 PM

    @Alan McDonagh: Government!!

    2
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    Mute Mary Conneely
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 11:23 PM

    @Ger Whelan: I am sure they have, however some people’s literacy skills may not be as good as yours. A little consideration please, he got his point across.

    23
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    Mute Alan McDonagh
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 6:35 PM

    Get Nash sat at the Cabinet Table as Super Junior Minister and done Nothing for Drogheda, now he’s concerned and wants task force’s and everything else.
    The man who ABOLISHED Drogheda Borough Council is now worried about Drogheda, an absolute Joke !!

    59
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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 5:51 PM

    Ireland must not be as profitable for BD anymore. They sold off their factory in south county Dublin a couple of years ago.

    46
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    Mute Sean Finnegan
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 6:39 PM

    @Ger Whelan: Embecta is a spin off from BD

    13
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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 8:08 PM

    @Sean Finnegan: Really. The usual reason for a spin off is because of A. Tax reasons or B. It was no longer profitable therefore no longer viable to keep it. Any idea what they do there?

    9
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    Mute Big Haus
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 5:09 PM

    Wouldn’t happen in Dundalk, Joan’s jewel

    41
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    Mute Peter Byrne
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 6:59 PM

    This is the result of the increase in wages costs brought in by the present government and which will see plenty more similar jobs move to lower cost countries. . We are told we have full employment so I am sure the workers will have no problem finding alternative jobs.
    Very interesting article in today’s Independent which reports that most of the jobs created in 2024 were state jobs , which will lead to the countries ruin

    35
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    Mute William Kelly
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 9:43 PM

    @Peter Byrne: which leads to higher taxes to pay public service desk jockeys! We need more elec,tech & mech trainees to keep industrial jobs manned & attractive to investors.

    18
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    Mute Joseph Tierney
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 6:47 PM

    This is business pure and simple.Were moving to a lower cost destination.Thank you Ireland for your grant aids over the years but we will make more money in a new destination.Goverment and economy issue now regarding jobs for the workers.

    37
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    Mute Tony Mc Cormack
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 6:59 PM

    Again poor Drogheda loses a steady long time quality employer. Good quality companies leave and have never been replaced. The town is divided in two by the toll bridges.Our TD’s don’t appear to have any clout to get the simplest thing done . Sincere sympathy to the workers if they expect any support from government ministers. As Michael Bell said when the shoe and leather workers union marched the streets of Dublin with a coffin in the1970s to signify our trade ” cheap imports are the death of our Jobs” they’re all forever gone.

    33
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    Mute Max Cooper
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 9:48 PM

    Cost of doing business in this Country is gone through the Roof.
    Pensions
    Sick pay
    Employers PRSI
    Additional bank holiday
    Insurance
    Energy cost
    Taxation
    Compliance with never ending regulations
    Fraudulent insurance claims
    Bent legal system
    It’s not worth the hassle
    More and more companies are making the same decisions, move or close.
    Government just keep piling on the costs

    29
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    Mute If you're
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 10:03 PM

    From Louth, born in the Lourdes. Had a walk around Drogheda recently. First time in maybe twenty years. Jaysus, I couldn’t believe it. The place is dying on its feet. It’s sad. I loved Drogheda. Lefty politicians like the aforementioned are not the solution. Hopefully it will rise up.

    29
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    Mute Patrice Ahern
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 8:00 PM

    Effing judge nolan is at it again. Perhaps that poor defendant should be compensated. What’s that you say? The victim? Tough luck, the victim was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Next, enter that other buffoon o’donnell from Limk. So angry.

    30
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    Mute Joe Kelly
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    Jul 6th 2024, 8:33 AM

    @Patrice Ahern: whats has that to do with drogheda

    1
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    Mute Adam Condon
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    Jul 4th 2024, 12:20 AM

    BD Drogheda was to close mid 2000’s but survived through voluntary redundancy and a re-orientation of the plant. Best wishes to all impacted but politicians/ IDA asleep at the wheel here if no other large companies were brought to a vibrant town / area with a ~19 year warning..

    8
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