by Alan Jacques
A COUNTY Limerick company that receives regular shipments from one of the West African countries worst affected by the deadly ebola outbreak believes that the risk or threat of an incident here is remote.
Rusal Aughinish in Askeaton, one of the largest employers in County Limerick, receives shipments of bauxite from Guinea, where more than 1,000 people have already died from the ebola virus since last March. The World Health Organisation reported 32 new cases and 11 deaths up to November 2 and most international airlines have suspended flights to the country.
Rusal Aughinish says its response to the possible threat of the ebola virus has been “timely, swift and comprehensive”. The Askeaton-based multinational is liaising with and has taken advice from State and world health authorities in relation to best practice.
“We place the highest value on the health and safety of our employees, contractors and visitors. Our safety programmes and performance, our health facilities and our practices and procedures confirm this,” said a statement from Rusal Aughinish.
“We have on-going contact with HSE Public Health Department. We will also continue to liaise with port authorities and our local medical practitioners.
“In relation to the current outbreak of the ebola virus in West Africa, we have been monitoring the situation daily in Guinea, with a particular emphasis on Port Kamsar. This is a closed port facility and monitoring has been on-going since March of this year.
“Although there have been no cases of ebola in the Port Kamsar region. restrictions have been in place for bauxite ships for a number of months. Shore leave is not permitted in and no physical contact takes place with any Port Kamsar personnel. The procedures are checked by Aughinish with every ship’s captain to ensure that the stated restrictions are fully in place.
In addition to the precautions at Port Kamsar, any vessel entering Ireland to unload must complete a maritime declaration of health before being allowed to dock. This is supplemented by an additional health surveillance document. If either of these documents is not completed or there is an ill person on board, the ship will not be allowed to dock without further investigation,” the spokesperson concluded.
