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Health authorities are investigating whether Virapro hand sanitiser, which has been recalled in Ireland, is being used by the National Health Service (NHS) in Northern Ireland.
The Irish government recalled Virapro hand sanitiser after it was found that longtime use can cause eye irritation, headaches, respiratory problems and skin issues, the BBC reported. Virapro hand sanitiser has been ordered removed from the market, and consumers have been advised stop using the product.
Checks are being done by Stormont’s Department of Health to verify if any stock of Northern Ireland’s supply is affected by the Virapro hand sanitiser recall.
Trade publications announced that hand sanitiser was scarce in the earliest parts of the coronavirus pandemic, the BBC reported. To remedy the shortage, Virapro hand sanitiser was delivered to the Republic of Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) and to the NHS in Northern Ireland.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has recalled Virapro hand sanitiser (PCS 100409) from the Biocidal Product Register due to health risks, according a government press release.
The department’s tests revealed some of the Virapro hand sanitiser is not compliant with regulations.
Some of the Virapro hand sanitiser is produced with methanol instead of ethanol, which can cause irritations of the skin, eyes and respiratory system, according to the government.
The recalled Virapro hand sanitiser is not for sale and should not be used.
The department advised the hand sanitizer company to immediately remove the product from the market. Consumers have been advised to stop using Virapro hand sanitizer immediately.
“At this stage we are unable to confirm if any product supplied is affected,” a department spokesperson told the BBC.
“At this point Health and Social Care Northern Ireland has not received any contact regarding recall and is initiating contact with its supplier to establish if any product supplied to Northern Ireland is affected,” the spokesperson continued. “If product used in NI is found to be affected, then as with any product found to be defective or sub-standard it will be withdrawn from use.”
“A dedicated recall team has been established to co-ordinate the collection of product currently in the healthcare system,” the HSE told the Irish Examiner.
The HSE had an agreement with PFG Brand, an Irish distributor that supplies hand sanitisers, according to an HSE statement, the Irish Examiner reported.
The HSE has not reported how much Virapro hand sanitiser was distributed to the U.K.’s health care system.
Virapro hand sanitisers have been distributed in some U.K. schools, too, but the exact quantities are unknown, according to the Irish Examiner.
Schools were allowed to close if they had Virapro hand sanitiser in supply and the recall was going to significantly affect them, The Irish Times reported.
Virapro hand sanitiser suppliers are one of 11 providers of personal protective equipment to schools.
“The Department of Education is informing all schools of the need to check whether they have used this supplier and have stocks of this product,” the department said in a statement, according to The Irish Times. “Schools should follow the advice of the Department of Agriculture to cease using it.”
The Department of Eduction advised in its statement that affected schools could “make local arrangments” last Friday to purchase hand sanitiser and “can maximise the use of hand washing to support necessary hand hygiene.”
Schools that cannot find another brand to replace the recalled Virapro hand sanitiser were advised to reach out to the Department of Education’s COVID-19 helpline, according to The Irish Times.
Did you purchase or use Virapro hand sanitiser in a healthcare setting? Tell us in the comments.
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