Health Board: SARS may have reached Ireland
The mystery disease that's baffling doctors around the globe may have arrived in Ireland.
The Department of Health and Children, the National Disease Surveillance Centre and the Eastern Regional Health Authority have all this evening revealed that a Dublin hospital is investigating a suspect case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
According to the health organisations, a person recently returned from South East Asia has shown mild symptoms similar to those of the disease, but is otherwise well and is continuing to receive treatment.
The ERHA's Department of Public Health is investigating the case.
Officials state they will continue to monitor the situation in co-operation with the hospital and the NDSC.
The investigation follows a global alert by the World Health Organisation at the weekend about outbreaks of SARS in East and South East Asia.
So far, nine people have died from the illness.
Health Minister Micheal Martin has established an expert group to monitor the situation and to advise him of any further measures which may need to be taken as the situation develops.
The group will have its first meeting tomorrow at 10am.
