Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride.
Derry schools have been told of “sources of information” on Ebola.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride has written to schools with information on the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) which, he said, may be of use to them.
In a letter to all schools across the North, Dr McBride said it was “unlikely but not impossible” that people infected in endemic areas could arrive here while “incubating the disease” and then develop symptoms after their return (the incubation period of ranges from two to 21 days).
Dr McBride said although there had been several previous outbreaks of EVD, exportation of the virus from an outbreak to a non-endemic country had historically been an “exceptionally rare event.”
He added: “Nevertheless, this has occurred in this outbreak. A British National who had contracted Ebola in Sierra Leone was repatriated back to the UK in late August and has since fully recovered following treatment.
“I have already reminded health care providers in Northern Ireland to remain vigilant for those who have visited areas affected by viral haemorrhagic fever and who develop unexplained illness.”
Dr McBride stressed the risk of importing a case of Ebola into Northern Ireland remained low and there had been no cases here.
He added: “The Health and Social Care services have comprehensive arrangements in place to deal with an imported case of Ebola including management of the Public Health implications of the disease.
“I will continue to emphasise that the risk of an unplanned importation of a case of Ebola into the UK remains low and if this were to occur, further spread is highly unlikely due to the nature of the disease and the robust nature of our Health and Social Care system which includes our stringent infection control procedures.
“Nevertheless, given that we are at the beginning of a new term for schools and colleges; Public Health England (PHE) have produced helpful advice for people working in educational, childcare and young persons’ settings which staff may find useful as an initial source of information on Ebola.
“As the advice has been produced by Public Health England (PHE), staff are reminded to contact their usual local healthcare providers in Northern Ireland in the first instance if they seek further advice, having followed the algorithm in the guidance.
“This could be the school health service or the local GP, who in turn will liaise as appropriate with our local Public Health agency (PHA).”
Dr McBride added: “I would also like to stress once again that the risk of importing a case of Ebola into Northern Ireland remains low and this communication is simply to direct schools to sources of information which they may find helpful.”
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