THE HSE HAS confirmed that tests investigating the recent death of a man from Donegal who had been working in Sierra Leone have proved negative for the Ebola virus.
The HSE said in a statement yesterday that it was made aware about the remains of a man discovered yesterday morning, who had recently travelled to one of the areas in Africa affected by the current Ebola outbreak.
Today, the HSE said that “infection control procedures, which had been put in place as a precautionary measure, will now be stepped down.”
“The HSE expressed its condolences to the individual’s family and friends for their loss.”
Dessie Quinn from Mountcharles, Co Donegal had recently returned to Ireland after working in Sierra Leone.
The company who employed Quinn said today that it had recalled its staff from Sierra Leone “as a precaution”.
In a statement today, the management and board of KN Network Services offered their “deepest sympathies and sorrow to the family and friends of the late Dessie Quinn following his untimely death”.
“Dessie was an extremely hard working and valued member of staff and was very popular with all his colleagues, and he will be missed by everybody who worked with him,” they said.
The company also said it is liaising with Quinn’s colleagues in Sierra Leone “on an ongoing basis about the necessary supports, updates, precautions and company contacts”, and has “ongoing contacts and discussions with HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre”.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland this morning, Fr Adrian Gavigan from Mountcharles said that Quinn’s family had only learned of the investigation into the cause of his death when he told them of the HSE statement in the media.
Quinn’s death was devastating to his family, he said, “a son and a brother has been really lost”.
Gavigan also said that Quinn had been treated in recent weeks for Malaria.
The HSE responded to the broadcast in a statement that it had maintained close contact with some members of Dessie Quinn’s family from the outset, and that it had issued a public statement in response to media reports on the situation.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say