THE Department of Health has stressed that, to date, there are no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Ireland but officials refused to comment on reports that a patient has been placed in isolation at University Hospital Kerry following concerns that they are showing symptoms similar to the illness.
It is understood that the female patient, complaining of respiratory problems, may have been in close contact with people who recently travelled from China.
As a precautionary measure, the woman, understood to be from Killarney, was immediately placed in isolation and all staff in the unit are adhering to strict control and hygiene criteria.
Tests have been conducted to determine the exact nature of the woman’s condition and sources at University Hospital Kerry have told KillarneyToday.com that a section of the hospital has been isolated, pending the results.
It is important to stress that while the symptoms are similar to those of the Coronavirus, the woman’s illness could well prove to be a completely different and less serious condition.
KillarneyToday.com contacted the South-South West Hospital Group for comment but we were referred to a Dublin-based PR company that manages all the agency’s queries from the media. Heneghan PR, in turn, suggested that the query be redirected to the Department of Health.
In a brief emailed reply to KillarneyToday.com, a department official stated: “To date, there are no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Ireland. The Department does not comment on individual cases, other than confirmed cases.”
The spokesperson added: “Ireland is well positioned to detect and respond to a case of novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that might arise here”.
Symptoms of the Coronavirus can include shortness of breath, coughing, breathing difficulties and a high temperature. The virus can possibly lead to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome or kidney failure.
Anybody that has returned from mainland China in the past 14 days, those that may have been in contact with a person suffering from the virus or those that have been in a hospital or healthcare centre where people are being treated for the illness are asked to contact their local Department of Public Health.
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