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A SENIOR MICROBIOLOGIST has told RTE that the new strain of E.coli, which has killed 18 people to date, will inevitably arrive in Ireland.
Dr Eleanor McNamara, director of the HSE’s public health laboratory, said on today’s Morning Ireland radio show on RTE 1 that because the cases so far had involved people travelling from Germany, there was an inevitability some cases would appear in Ireland.
She urged people to have scrupulous hygiene practices, especially when handling and preparing food, to pay particular attention to detail when washing food and to peel vegetables when necessary
She said that anyone who has recently travelled to Germany or an affected country and shows symptoms of gastroenteritis should report to their doctor immediately.
Dr McNamara added that for the last two weeks the public health laboratory has been speaking daily with the outbreak control team in Europe who are monitoring the situation as it evolves.
No laboratory studies have confirmed the source so far and Dr McNamara said that it will be days before we will have the real picture of the situation.
However she did say that the strain is virulent and you only need a small number of bacteria to cause infection.
Because there has been a significant amount of transfer from person to person so far, she urged appropriate supervision of toileting with young children.
People who are travelling abroad or by plane are urged to use hand hygiene wipes, alcohol gels and suchlike before and after eating and before and after toileting.
She said that the strain is easily killed and basic hygiene precautions are absolutely adequate to break the transfer of bacteria.
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€3b on meds. In this instance, fair play hse. Lots of countries wouldn’t spend that kinda money to help a small minority of patients.
It’s great talking about it,but will the people on medical cards be actually given it,I’ve 6 different autoimmunes and I’m on 28 tablets a day,and in the last 6 months,I’ve not got medication that’s not the generic one,they do not work as good as the proper ones,especially the 1s that I take 3 times a day,until they were changed,I had a better quality of life,and had the symptons under control,I can understand they giving the cheaper make to cut costs,but because I’ve a medical card,I’ve to take what I’m giving,When u have any autoimmunes they are so hard to treat,because mine came from some kind of virus in January 2018,because it went into the brain,that’s what caused all the autoimmunes,I gave almost 2 years in constant pain,so many autoimmunes u can’t see,mental health is so bad aswell
@Kathleen Peters: Generics contain the same active ingredient as the branded meds. They work exactly the same and are regulated the same by the HPRA for use in Ireland. Ask any doctor or pharmacist. You are letting your mind think that they are not as effective.
It takes a right wagon to whinge about the free medication they receive via the medical card scheme. Entitled moaner.
@Sun Rise: horrible comment
@Sun Rise:
What an absolute prîçk you are. Shame on you.
@Sun Rise: free medication you say? when healthcare should be about need and not how deep your pocket is.
@Sun Rise: And for your information the HSE is a system paid for by the taxpayer. It’s not free by your assertion
So you’re telling me there are life saving drugs that could have saved lives before are only being used now. My heart sank after reading this.
@Emer Daly: They have been in use since they were approved by the HPRA. The HSE may not have been giving them for free to people on medical cards because of the cost.
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