08/06/2007

Tuberculosis alert in Coleraine hospital

A Coleraine Hospital is on tuberculosis alert today after a member of staff contracted a rare form of the respiratory disease.

The employee from the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, contracted a multi-drug resistant form of TB. However, they are thought to be in a stable condition.

Colleagues and friends are currently being screened and a list of patients who may require testing is being drawn up.

Director of the Northern Ireland and Social Care Trust, Dr Peter Flannigan said: “Our main concern is with regard to the patients who during this period of time were treated in surgical ward one and the gynaecology ward of Causeway Hospital,” he said.

“The healthcare worker also did some work in the accident and emergency department.

“But because of the very limited contact time-wise they would have had with the public, at that stage this does not present any degree of significant risk to anybody who attended the accident and emergency department.”

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection spread through the air that attacks the lung.

Symptoms may include chest pain and coughing up blood.

(JM/SP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

19 August 2024
76-Year-Old Coleraine Man Jailed For Sexual Assault Of A Child
A 76-year-old Coleraine man has been sentenced to nine years at Laganside Crown Court for three counts of sexual assault of a child. The man, who cannot be named in order to protect the victim's identity, will serve four years in prison and five years on licence.
15 April 2016
Ulster Bank Seeks 60 Redundancies
Finance union IBOA has expressed concerns after the Ulster Bank told staff it is seeking up to 60 redundancies from its branches in Northern Ireland. The bank also said it is to stop Saturday opening hours at 11 of its branches from 07 May.
07 January 2016
Police Appeal For Missing Coleraine Man Andrew Smith
Police are appealing for information to trace missing Coleraine man Andrew Smith. Mr Smith, 28, was last seen in the Ballysally area at around midnight. He is believed to have been driving a white Ford Focus. A PSNI spokesperson said: "We are keen to establish Andrew's whereabouts and that he is safe and well. Police can be contacted on 101.
22 October 2014
Dog Attacked In Coleraine Fails To Recover
Police are appealing for information after a dog was attacked at its owner's home on Co L'Derry. The jack russell is believed to have been struck with a "blunt object" several times in the garden of a property on Maple Drive, Coleraine, on Sunday morning. The dog did not recover and had to be put down.
07 February 2013
Nine NI HMV Stores To Close
Nine HMV stores in Northern Ireland are to close as part of an operation which will see 66 stores UK-wide closed over the next two months. Administrators have revealed the shops due to shut in Northern Ireland include those on the Boucher Road and Forestside, Belfast.