Ireland should prepare for a pandemic every five to ten years from now on, a disease expert has claimed.
Professor Sam McConkey said a detailed public health plan is needed to ensure the State is fully prepared for future outbreaks.
He said we needed to follow the lead of Asian countries with previous experience of SARS [Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome] rather than relying on a “flu plan”. Prof McConkey said: “I think we do need to learn public health planning.
“I’m delighted there’s now a public health specialist who’s making plans to deal with future public health and health emergencies. We need those for the future for about maybe 15 or 20 different emergencies.”
Speaking on RTE Radio One’s Brendan O’Connor Show, the infectious disease expert said there had been several pandemics including Ebola but Ireland has largely been spared.
He added: “Many of us have dealt with four or five pandemics in our working life so I think we should expect one every 5, 10, 15 years.”
On the decision to lift the mask mandate on February 28 he said the Chief Medical Officer was advising people to exercise caution. He said: “It’s now guidance and recommended to wear a mask. I have no doubt that very many of us will continue to do that.”
Letting the virus “rip” through the population would be a very bad idea for the most vulnerable, he added.
“I think if we listen carefully to [chief medical officer] Tony Holohan, he’s saying we should move from the regulation of wearing masks in these places like schools, public transport and jobs to guidance.
“So he’s still advising us to do that. And I have no doubt that very many of us will continue to do that.
“It’s now guidance and recommended to wear a mask.”
Letting the virus “rip” through the population would be a very bad idea for the most vulnerable, he added.
