The North Eastern Health Board has confirmed it is screening 550 children for tuberculosis after an employee in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda was diagnosed with the disease.
The employee was a non-medical staff member who worked in a children's ward at the hospital. Parents of children who were in-patients from November 1st, 1998, to February 12th this year are being contacted for possible screening.
Dr Rosaleen Corcoran, the board's director of public health, said the risk of infection to the contacts of these patients was low. The board has set up a free-phone information line throughout this week on 1800226-220 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.