Ukrainian refugees recovering from illness after treatment from medics in Co Cork

Ukrainian refugees who became ill after arriving at an emergency rest centre in North Cork on Saturday are said to be recovering.

The unspecified illness required a small number to be taken to hospital for treatment over the weekend.

Some 46 Ukrainian refugees had arrived at the centre in Banteer near Kanturk on Saturday night and a number subsequently reported feeling unwell.

A small number were brought to hospital for treatment, but everyone is now recovering, according to consultant in emergency medicine Dr Jason van der Velde.

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He told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that the National Ambulance Service was called to the centre shortly before 6am on Easter Sunday.

“What was very clear was there were two children, and an adult, that were unwell enough that they did require hospitalisation immediately, and that was arranged.”

Dr van der Velde said at the start, it was unclear what was causing the illness. “These folks had absolutely nothing ... without even the basic supports they were extremely vulnerable. What we needed to do was examine and treat every single person on site.”

Medics needed to ensure the sickness was not caused by something sinister or unusual, such as an illness not common to Ireland, according to Dr van der Velde.

Most people were treated with rehydration and anti-nausea medicines on site, and they responded well. Children who were previously very listless and unrousable were running around playing with donated toys, he said. “It was very heart-warming to see.”

Two children required treatment in hospital, but they have since been discharged. Two local GPs and a public health team are now looking after the refugees, Dr van der Velde said.

On Sunday, Cork County Council confirmed that a small number of Ukrainian refugees were treated by medical staff when they felt unwell after arriving at the emergency accommodation centre.

The HSE’s Public Health Unit was mobilised and access to the centre was restricted while the matter was being addressed.

Local sources in North Cork told The Irish Times it is understood the refugees who reported feeling unwell were suffering from gastroenteritis or a vomiting bug. It is believed they had the illness when they arrived in Banteer after they came from Dublin.

Dr van der Velde said the refugees would have been particularly vulnerable to illness given the scale of the upheaval they had been through recently.