Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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70. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the contingency plans for Ebola in view of the WHO’s statement that Ebola is a public health emergency of international concern; if education of medical staff has occurred; the status of the National Isolation Unit at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin; the travel cautions and checks that have been employed; the likelihood of a case appearing here; the number of cases in which testing for Ebola has taken place here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36737/14]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to join with Deputy Kelleher in welcoming the Minister, and I wish him well in the responsibilities of his new portfolio.

I am seeking to establish what steps have been taken by the Department of Health, the HSE and other Departments, including the Minister's former Department, which clearly have a role in helping to ensure that our population is not subjected to the risk of contracting Ebola, a merciless scourge that has already taken more than 3,000 lives along the west coast of Africa, as well as the lives of others exposed to this highly contagious disease.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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On 8 August 2014, the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in west Africa to be a public health emergency of international concern. As of 24 September 2014, the cumulative number of cases attributed to Ebola in the five affected west African countries stood at 6,263, including 2,917 deaths. There have been no cases of Ebola in Ireland. The focus of public health planning is on dealing with any cases of viral haemorrhagic fever that may be imported from another country.

The HSE's Ebola scientific advisory group and emerging viral threats group have been meeting regularly to review the situation and approve national guidance for Ebola and other emerging viral threats to health, and to ensure implementation of this guidance.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre, which is part of the HSE, has issued this guidance to hospitals and GPs, including an algorithm for the assessment of viral haemorrhagic fevers and clinical assessment forms. Health professionals have been advised that any individual presenting with particular symptoms must be urgently assessed using the viral haemorrhagic fever algorithm and clinical assessment forms, which are also available on the Health Protection Surveillance Centre website. There are also protocols in place for viral haemorrhagic fever risk assessment by ambulance personnel at airports and shipping ports. Paramedics will transport suspected victims either to the national isolation unit at the Mater hospital or to the nearest emergency department, depending on the risk assessment for each individual case. Posters giving information about Ebola are on display in ports and airports.

It is national policy that any case of Ebola should be treated at the national isolation unit, if the patient is medically fit for transfer. The guidance includes protocols for the safe ambulance transfer of such a patient. The National Ambulance Service has arrangements in place for a Garda escort for the ambulance transporting the patient to the national isolation unit.

In Ireland, all diagnostic testing for Ebola is carried out in the National Virus Reference Laboratory. Testing is carried out only with prior consultation with the laboratory, which provides advice on the packaging and transfer of specimens. As a precautionary measure, tests have been carried out on 18 samples from 12 patients with reported symptoms and a travel history consistent with the case definition for Ebola. The results of all tests have been negative for the Ebola virus.

There is ongoing contact between my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Updated travel advice is available on the latter Department's website. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade strongly advises Irish citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Considerable public health planning is under way with a range of bodies and professionals in relation to the implications of the Ebola emergency in west Africa. The matter was discussed in Milan last week at the informal Council of Ministers meeting at which I was present.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. The European Commission has donated some €180 million to help fight the epidemic. The death toll has now exceeded the 3,000 mark and that is just six months after the outbreak first occurred. It would appear from the statistics that there is an increasing incidence of deaths due to Ebola. Over the past fortnight the number of deaths has been much greater than in any previous fortnightly period since the outbreak began. On this morning's RTE radio programme, "Today with Sean O'Rourke," it was suggested that by January 2015 the figures could have risen to exceptional levels, even to 1.2 million. These are alarming indicators of a situation that is not under control, although I am not suggesting that it is out of control. I ask the Minister to consider what further steps can be taken. The Minister said no case of Ebola had been identified in Ireland, thank God.

However, what direction are we giving the population in terms of the incidence among those tested? This is a highly contagious disease, yet people are being encouraged to seek medical attention. This is putting others at risk, not only general practitioners but also others in hospital sites. We must have a very clear indication as to what steps people should take because the disease can take hold very quickly, at which time there is a crisis.

Is the Minister in a position to tell me whether we have in this jurisdiction a stock of the drug ZMapp, which appears to have been effective in the treatment of two American aid workers who contracted Ebola? What further steps does the Minister believe the Government can take on travel? We heard this morning that a suspected case of Ebola was identified on a flight out of Africa. This is absolutely frightening for people. It is very important that representatives of the people, on both the Government and Opposition sides, ensure we have the very highest levels of protection in place for our population and face up to our international responsibilities by contributing the best we can offer to help curtail and, I hope, eradicate the disease, which presents such a terrible challenge.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate the Deputy's concerns about the Ebola outbreak. The outbreak in West Africa is very serious. Our main efforts are obviously to support the work taking place there through the Department of Foreign Affairs, the World Health Organization, the European Commission and various aid agencies on the ground. We must issue travel advice and have measures in place to identify a case quickly should it occur in Ireland, and ensure that any person affected is isolated at the isolation unit in the Mater, provided he or she is fit to be transferred there. Therefore, we have plans and contingency arrangements in place. General practitioners and other doctors have been advised of the diagnostic algorithm and what to do should a case be suspected in their offices or surgeries.

I do not know whether we have a stock of the particular drug the Deputy mentioned, but I will certainly check that out.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Is the Minister in a position to tell us exactly the capacity of the national isolation unit at the Mater hospital? It is used for a variety of infectious diseases. Has there been any upgrading or preparation for Ebola? It would be an obvious location for the drug I mentioned, ZMapp, if there is any supply in this jurisdiction.

On Ebola itself, what steps have been taken to ensure there is adequate training and preparation for an outbreak, even a single case, in our population? Are steps being taken across the first line of engagement for people presenting, be it through hospitals, doctors' practices or nurses? What steps have been taken to prepare and train personnel to respond properly to circumstances that are unprecedented in our living experience? Can the Minister advise us on what help and assistance we are offering, in terms of personnel or financial support, in the effort to address the problem at its point of origin in west Africa?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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There are many questions there and I do not believe I will be able to answer them all in the minute allowed, unfortunately. With regard to the national isolation unit in the Mater hospital, there is a self-contained unit with 12 beds. These include six lobbied en-suite single rooms with negative pressure ventilation so the virus cannot spread through the air. Two of the isolation rooms are of high specification and are separate from the rest of the unit. They have a different air-handling system.

The Deputy also asked about our support for efforts in west Africa. To date, Ireland has provided direct funding of €350,000 to organisations working on the Ebola response in Sierra Leone and Liberia, which are partner countries for Ireland. The funding is in addition to that associated with Irish Aid's ongoing programmes in both countries. It provided €3.9 million in bilateral aid to Sierra Leone and over €2 million for health and nutrition programmes.

I can provide the Deputy with the remainder of the information.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Is training being provided here?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I will answer that question if the Deputy puts it to me with the others.