The winter vomiting bug has returned to the west, with confirmation of an outbreak at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, writes Lorna Siggins.
Fourteen patients and 14 staff have been affected by the virus and symptomatic patients have been isolated to try and reduce the risk of infection in the hospital. The Western Health Board (WHB) has asked all visitors to Portiuncula to restrict visits where possible, and to leave children at home.
Dr Declan McKeown, director of public health with the WHB, said elective surgery and outpatient clinics were continuing as normal, but this was being reviewed daily.
Symptoms of the bug include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain, along with headache and low-grade fever. The illness usually lasts 48 to 72 hours and is extremely infectious but not serious.
Cheer for Clones and Waterford
Up to 65 new jobs are to be created in counties Monaghan and Waterford, writes Tim O'Brien. Thirty of the new jobs are to be provided in the Border town of Clones, with the establishment of a new heavy engineering business.
Aughey Holdings, which trades in Monaghan town, is to take over a former PVC fabrication facility in Clones which closed last year with the loss of 180 jobs. The new company will manufacture equipment for the quarrying industry.
Also yesterday, 35 jobs were announced for Waterford with the opening of Athenaeum House Hotel on the city's North Quays. The four-star hotel, with 29 bedrooms and four suites, will provide 25 full-time and up to 10 part-time jobs.
Miss World asked to Carrickmacross
Town councillors in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, have decided to invite Miss World winner Susanna Davison to a civic reception. The proposal to invite Ms Davison, a daughter of singer Chris de Burgh, to a civic reception was made at yesterday's meeting by Independent councillor Mr Vincent Martin.
Mr Martin, who is a barrister, got the unanimous support of his six male and three female colleagues on the council.
Garda resources 'being wasted'
Garda resources are being wasted because they are being used to baby-sit adults who are acting like children, a senior garda claimed this week. A drink-fuelled row between neighbours in the Cormack Drive housing estate in Nenagh, Co Tipperary last weekend resulted in a number of people being brought to hospital.
Nenagh-based Supt Jim Fitzgerald said: "We have to spend so much Garda time and resources baby-sitting adults who are behaving in a juvenile fashion."
On Sunday last early in the morning, a fight involving up to seven people escalated after a window was broken and a car damaged. After the fight a number of people were treated at Nenagh General Hospital's accident and emergency unit.
Gardaí from Nenagh, Roscrea and Borrisokane contained the row and they remained at the scene until 6 a.m.
Tralee pupils moved to action
A container load of toys and clothes is on its way to a mission station in a remote area of Zimbabwe thanks to a group of Tralee teenagers.
Mr Eamon Ó Murchú, who had completed a six- week lay mission to Embakwe in Zimbabwe, was invited to address the Junior Cert class at Mercy Mounthawk in Tralee by teacher Mr Mike Culloty.
The 27 pupils in the mixed class were so moved by Mr Ó Murchú's address, they organised a toys and clothes appeal.The goods are being transported free of charge by Garryowen Transport of Tralee to Dublin and it is hoped they will reach Zimbabwe by Christmas.