Health « Thurles Information

Potentially Deadly E Coli Bacteria In Mid-West Region.

The Irish Department of Public Health has confirmed that it is investigating circumstances behind an increase in cases of a potentially-deadly bacteria, known as Verotoxigenic Escherichia Coli (VTEC), in the Mid-West region. Ireland’s mid-west region covers three counties: Tipperary, Limerick, and Clare, latter area with a rising population of some 473,269 or about 10% of Ireland’s total population.

Data published by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) for 2022, confirm that there have been more than 20 identified Verotoxigenic E Coli cases in this Mid-West region in the weeks between July 31st to August 27th, same resulting in a number of patients having to be hospitalised.

Verotoxigenic Escherichia Coli, as well as causing severe stomach pains and diarrhoea, can bring about Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), resulting in the breakdown of human red blood cells or kidney failure.
A small number of Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome cases have already been confirmed.

The Department of Public Health warn that between 5% to 10% of Verotoxigenic Escherichia Coli cases, particularly in children under five and in elderly persons, will be become infected by Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome, often requiring kidney dialysis. Some 5% per cent of patients, who develop this serious condition, may also die.

Public Health teams are investigating outbreaks in certain households in rural settings, near farms, and on infected sites with access to private water supplies.

People are being advised to use warm water and soap to wash their hands after preparing and eating food; after toilet use or changing of children’s nappies, and or near farm settings/petting zoos etc. People should also wash raw vegetables before eating, and fully cook all meat; as farm animals can carry VTEC in their bowels and can pass this bacterium to humans from eating undercooked contaminated food and drink.

Verotoxigenic E Coli can also be spread by people infected; such as in household or childcare settings where there is nappy changing or shared toilet facilities.

Over the past 10 years, the Department of Public Health Mid-West has been notified of approximately 1,250 cases of Verotoxigenic E Coli in the Mid-West region, same area having one of the highest rates of E Coli in Ireland.

Holycross Village Market, Saturday Afternoon Next.

Fiona Gleeson, The Village Market, Holycross reports:

“Come and join us this Saturday afternoon, September 3rd, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm at ‘The Village Market’, Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

This is your community space to meet and enjoy local quality foods, gifts and crafts.

There are lots of spaces to sit and enjoy a hot lunch, coffee and a chat, with delicious home baked treats and fresh in season produce available to purchase.

We will have new and familiar talented crafters and artists at each market, where you can pick up unique crafts, gifts and paintings for all occasions. We have lots of plants and advice for the garden too.
Note: Free parking. Free admission. Live busking.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and thank you for visiting and supporting The Village Market.”

Lidl Ireland Recall Batches Of Duc De Coeur Stuffed Mussels.

Today, Lidl Ireland have recalled batches of Duc De Coeur Mussels stuffed with parsley and garlic due to cooking instructions not being labelled in English and having undeclared molluscs, milk and gluten.

Alert Notifications: 2022.55 and 202.A25
Product: Duc De Coeur 12 Stuffed Mussels with Parsley and Garlic (frozen); pack size 125g.
Batch Code: 03.067.22.30 and 03.104.22.30; Best before date: 09/2023 and 10/2023.
Country Of Origin: France

Lidl Ireland is recalling the above batches of its Duc De Coeur Stuffed Mussels with Parsley and Garlic because the cooking instructions and ingredients are not labelled in English.
The implicated batches contain molluscs, milk and gluten. This may make the batches unsafe for consumers, latter who are allergic to, or intolerant of, molluscs, milk or gluten.

Point-of-sale recall notices will be displayed in stores supplied with the implicated batches.

Covid -19 Vaccine Reminder for Persons Aged 50 Years & Over.

People aged 50 years and over in the Irish Republic, have been invited, since yesterday, to come forward for their next Covid-19 vaccine booster.
Vaccine boosters doses can be booked online at vaccination clinics HERE.

Note: The Tipperary Vaccination Centre is currently situated at Gortnafleur, Clonmel. (E91 WR29).

Those who are more than 16 weeks pregnant are also invited to book their next booster at a vaccination centre or from participating GPs and pharmacies.

Those aged between 12 years and 49 years with long-term health conditions will be offered their second booster vaccine from next week and healthcare workers will be offered booster vaccines shortly.

The HSE and Children’s Health Ireland will shortly be inviting, through their parents, children aged 5 years to 11 years, who are immunocompromised, and now due to have their first booster.

The health service has warned there is still a small, but important number of persons within our State [150,000 to 200,000 persons], who have not yet been vaccinated against Covid-19.

In the previous 14 days, up to August 23rd last, at least 270 new cases of Covid-19 have been identified and confirmed within the borders of Co. Tipperary. There remains a fake sense of confidence that the disease has vanished, however, future new variants are still a possibility, so it is important for people to get themselves vaccinated.

From October 2022, a third booster, or fifth vaccine dose, will be offered to people aged 65 years and older, together with those aged 12 years and older with weak immune systems.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee has recommended that these stated doses be administered with the seasonal flu vaccine, amid concerns that the State could be facing a bad flu season, in light of Australia’s winter experience over recent weeks.

Porridge With Mixed Summer Berries Recalled Due To Presence Of Hepatitis A.

Specific batches of Fit Food’s Breakfast Club Porridge with Mixed Summer Berries recalled due to the presence of Hepatitis A.

The product in question is Fit Foods Breakfast Club Porridge with Mixed Summer Berries; pack size: 240g
Batch Code: Use by dates: 26/08/22 and 29/08/22
Country Of Origin: Ireland.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) have confirmed that Swift Fine Foods are recalling the above batches of its Fit Foods Breakfast Club Porridge with Mixed Summer Berries, due to the presence of Hepatitis A. Point-of-sale recall notices will be displayed in stores supplied with the implicated batches.

Nature Of Danger:
Hepatitis A infection is an acute disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, and jaundice. Some people experience a fairly mild illness and recover within a couple of weeks. Other people develop more severe symptoms and may take months to fully recover. Older people are more likely to have more severe symptoms and some infected children do not have any symptoms at all. The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is, on average, 28 days but can range from 15 to 50 days.

Retailers are requested to remove the implicated batches from sale and to display a point-of-sale recall notice in stores where the affected batches were sold.

Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batches.