The Health Service Executive has confirmed that there are currently two people detained against their will in hospitals in Ireland because they are considered to be probable sources of infection to others.
One of the cases is that of a woman from South Africa who is currently detained in a hospital in Cork with a suspected case of TB that is drug resistant.
This woman has refused medical treatment and has been detained against her will for the last 11 months. She lost her High Court challenge to her continued detention this week.
Following a subsequent query by RTÉ News, the HSE has tonight confirmed that there is one other person currently detained under Section 38 of the 1947 Health Act.
This Act allows a Chief Medical Officer (a trained Specialist in Public Health Medicine) to detain in isolation individuals when it is necessary as a safeguard against the spread of infection.
