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Tuberculosis alert at NI hospital Tuberculosis alert at NI hospital
(about 1 hour later)
There is a tuberculosis alert at the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, after a member of staff contracted a rare form of the respiratory disease.There is a tuberculosis alert at the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, after a member of staff contracted a rare form of the respiratory disease.
The worker, diagnosed with a multi-drug resistant form of TB, is said to be in a stable condition.The worker, diagnosed with a multi-drug resistant form of TB, is said to be in a stable condition.
Friends and colleagues of the person are being screened. A list of patients who may need testing is being drawn up.Friends and colleagues of the person are being screened. A list of patients who may need testing is being drawn up.
The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has stressed that the risk of catching the infection is very low.The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has stressed that the risk of catching the infection is very low.
The trust's medical director, Dr Peter Flannigan, said the time they were concerned about is September last year and May this year.The trust's medical director, Dr Peter Flannigan, said the time they were concerned about is September last year and May this year.
"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."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.
Dr Peter Flannigan said patients and staff were being screened
"The healthcare worker also did some work in the accident and emergency department."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.""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."
He said they reviewed the records of 1,600 patients and about 160 of those would need further screening. He said between 90 and 100 other members of staff would also be screened.
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that usually attacks the lungs.Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that usually attacks the lungs.
It is spread through the air and can lead to symptoms such as chest pain and coughing up blood.It is spread through the air and can lead to symptoms such as chest pain and coughing up blood.
There has been an increase in the incidents of TB infection in the UK, with a rise of 2% last year to over 8,000 new cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.There has been an increase in the incidents of TB infection in the UK, with a rise of 2% last year to over 8,000 new cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.