The South Eastern Health Board has received test results that indicate that a patient recently diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease most likely acquired the infection at St Luke's General Hospital in Kilkenny.
This is the second time in a year that a hospital in the southeast has been identified as a source of the disease.
Last year, a Co Waterford woman died after contracting the disease at Waterford Regional hospital.
The health board says the case in Kilkenny is rare because the patient was prone to infection due to being on a particular therapy for a longstanding condition. The patient is now recovering in St Luke's.
Tests for Legionnaires' have been carried out on a showerhead and water from the bathroom used by the patient in the hospital.
Following the discovery of the case of the disease, St Luke's has implemented all protocols and procedures of national regulations including environment testing, hyper-chlorination and enhanced monitoring.
The board says it is satisfied that there is no danger to other patients, staff or visitors in the hospital in relation to this single, isolated case.
