A fresh outbreak of the so-called winter vomiting bug in the West has resulted in the cancellation of all routine surgery at University College Hospital in Galway. Twelve patients at the 550-bed hospital, the largest in the West, have contracted the virus. Management says emergency surgery will be provided and its Accident and Emergency unit will operate as normal.
Up until now, Galway's University College Hospital had escaped the Winter Vomiting Bug which hit many other hospitals through out the country. But last night it was confirmed that patients in a number of wards have contracted the highly contagious virus. A spokeswoman said it was vitally important to keep the number of visitors to a minimum and friends and relatives of patients should not to visit them today - unless it is absolutely nesessary.
Meanwhile, in Tuam, where there has been a serious outbreak of the measles, the vaccination of thousands of at risk children is continuing. Public health teams will visit all primary schools in the town tomorrow and over the next week the emergency vaccination programme will be extended to the entire county.
