Public confidence in the Department of Health's ability to deal with the threat of the potentially fatal SARS was further undermined last night after the State's Chief Medical Officer admitted giving out incorrect information,write Eithne Donnellan & Muiris Houston.
Early yesterday, Dr Jim Kiely said the status of infection of a Chinese woman at the centre of a SARS scare in Dublin had been upgraded from being a suspected to a probable case of SARS or severe acute respiratory syndrome.
The health authority dealing with the case, the Eastern Regional Health Authority, insisted this had not happened and later Dr Kiely advised the public that the earlier information he had given was incorrect. He blamed "a dynamic, changing environment" and said the information available could "be interpreted differently by different consultants".
Deflecting attention from the situation, the Minister for Health, launched a blistering attack on public health doctors, who next week enter their third week of strike action.
At the annual general meeting of the Irish Medical Organisation in Killarney yesterday, Mr Martin accused the striking doctors of putting peoples lives at risk and of "total abandonment of responsibility".
His remarks were condemned by the doctors and sources in the IMO said it was now likely the dispute would be escalated to include other doctors next week.
Meanwhile, the South Eastern Health Board has confirmed that it is continuing to monitor the condition of a woman who returned to the region from Toronto with SARS-like symptoms a few days ago.
"Following test results and based on clinical advice," she was not kept in hospital but was instead being monitored at her home, a spokeswoman said, adding that this was in line with "national guidelines".
However, World Health Organisation guidelines clearly state all suspect cases should be kept in hospital.
Dr Kiely said the guidelines from the WHO were "simply that" and it was up to clinicians to decide whether to admit suspected cases to hospital. Nonetheless, he said the national guidelines were being updated "in relation to case-management and community-tracing and public health support".
Also yesterday, the Department of Health announced plans for a public information campaign on SARS.
Notices would be placed in newspapers outlining signs and symptoms of the virus, information desks would be set up at all airports and a public helpline would be put in place. In addition, announcements would be made on all aircraft and ferries and information leaflets would be given to arriving passengers at airports and ferry ports.
Meanwhile, there were calls last night from the Opposition to recall the Dáil for an emergency debate on SARS. Fine Gael's health spokeswoman, Ms Olivia Mitchell, said the Taoiseach should take "radical steps to restore public confidence".
In a separate development, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service said it would as a precaution be deferring donors returning from China, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Singapore and Toronto, all of which have reported SARS deaths. A total of 4,649 cases of SARS with 274 deaths have now been reported from 26 countries.
The WHO said 210 cases and 11 deaths were notified yesterday. The new deaths were reported in China (five) and Hong Kong (six).