Warning issued over potentially poisonous mussels, some of which were sold locally

If you bought mussels in Dundalk this week then please don’t eat them as they could be potentially poisonous.

A warning has been issued by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) after it was revealed that the mussels, harvested at Roaring Water Bay in Co Cork on Monday and Tuesday, may contain harmful levels of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxins.

The mussels were sold at a number of locations around the country including locally at J&C Fish in Dundalk, Morgan’s Fine Fish in Omeath and Morgan’s Fish Stand in Dundalk, as well as some Dunnes Stores outlets.

Anyone who has taken ill from eating mussels earlier in the week is also urged to seek medical attention immediately.

Poisoning from affected batches can lead to diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and cramps for several days.

Dr Pamela Byrne, chief executive of the FSAI, said consumers who may have bought the implicated mussels should not to eat them.

“Cooking does not destroy this toxin,” she said.

The food safety watchdog said the affected mussels were sold at the following outlets from Wednesday onwards:

• * Some Dunnes Stores outlets, with the use-by date of 21.08.2015
• * Some SuperValu outlets, where mussels were sold in 2kg and 5kg bags with use-by date of 22.08.2015
• * Beshoff’s, West Pier, Howth, Co Dublin – mussels sold in 1kg net bags with use-by date of 20.08.2015
• * Doran’s, West Pier, Howth, Co Dublin
• * Kish Fish, Malahide Road, Coolock, and at Bow Street, Smithfield, Dublin.
• * The Dublin Fish Shop, Queen Street, Dublin 7
• * Morgan’s Fine Fish, Omeath, Co Louth
• * Glenmar, Union Hall, Co Cork
• * Normandy Ireland, Schull, Co Cork
• * Baltimore Fresh Fish, Baltimore, Co Cork
• * O’Driscoll’s, Schull, Co Cork
• * Bantry Central Fish, Bantry, Co Cork
• * J&C Fish, Dundalk, Co Louth
• * Keoghs Fish Shop, New Quay, Clonmel, Co Tipperary
• * Seacatch Retail Fish Stand, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan
• * Morgans Fish Stand, Park Street, Dundalk, Co Louth

The FSAI said potentially poisonous mussels have been removed from sale at outlets, and warned anyone who may have already bought some to check with the store where they purchased them and not to eat them.

“Eating contaminated mussels could cause diarrhetic shellfish poisoning,” said Dr Byrne.

“Symptoms are diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain which can start between 30 minutes to a few hours after ingestion.

“Complete recovery occurs within a number of days.

“Consumers who may have already consumed this product and are feeling unwell should seek medical advice.”

Visitor restrictions in place at Louth County Hospital after outbreak of vomiting bug

The Louth County Hospital in Dundalk

There has been an outbreak of the vomiting bug at the Louth County Hospital in Dundalk.

As a result of the outbreak visitor restrictions have been put in place at the step down ward of the hospital.

People are asked not to visit patients for the foreseeable future in order to prevent the bug from spreading.

A statement from the HSE said: “Visitor restrictions have been introduced with immediate effect on the step down ward at Louth County Hospital due to an outbreak of norovirus – commonly known as the vomiting bug. This is in the interest of patient care and in order to curb the spread of the vomiting bug within the hospital.

“In so far as possible the public are asked to avoid visiting the step down ward. Visits to the ward are at the discretion and prior arrangement by the Nurse in Charge.

“Visitors are also requested to cooperate with hospital staff who are ensuring the restrictions are adhered to and visitors are also advised that they must use the alcohol hand gels supplied as they enter and leave the hospital.

“The public are requested not to visit the hospital if they have been affected by vomiting and/or diarrhoea, or if they have been in contact with anyone with these symptoms until they have been symptom free for 72 hours.”

Visitor restrictions in place at Louth County Hospital

The Louth County Hospital in Dundalk

A suspected outbreak of the Winter Vomiting Bug at the Louth County Hospital has resulted in the HSE implementing visitor restrictions at the Dublin Road hospital.

Members of the public are being asked to try and curtail visiting hospital wards and to only visit if it is absolutely essential and by prior arrangement with the Nurse in Charge.

The HSE says children may not visit any ward areas and anyone with vomiting and diarrhoea symptoms should not visit the hospital.

Louth has the third highest rate of bowel cancer nationally

Louth has the third highest rate of bowel cancer in the country, according to new data from the Irish Cancer Society.

The study found that 54.97 per 100,000 of Louth’s population were diagnosed with bowel cancer each year. Only Leitrim (56.39) and Cork (57.9) had higher rates.

The society, which based the figures on data from the National Cancer Registry, is designating April bowel cancer awareness month.

Around 2,000 people in Ireland are diagnosed with bowel cancer and 900 people die from it each year – with half diagnosed in the later stages of the disease, which demands more complex treatment and reduces the chances of survival.

“We are encouraging people who may be at a higher risk to review their lifestyle, to see if they can make healthier choices to reduce their risk,” said a spokeswoman.

She said that research has found that adults who increase their physical activity and have a healthy diet can reduce their risk of developing bowel cancer by 30-40%.

Joan Kelly, nursing services manager at the Irish Cancer Society, said: “We are seeing high levels of bowel cancer incidence in some parts of the country.

“This could be due to lifestyle factors or genetic reasons. We are reminding people in these areas to reduce their risk of bowel cancer by making some simple lifestyle changes.”

Symptoms include a change in your normal bowel motion, such as diarrhoea or constipation, feeling you have not emptied your bowel fully after a motion, or pain or discomfort in your abdomen (tummy) or back passage.

Other signals may include trapped wind or fullness in your tummy, weight loss, tiredness and breathlessness, rectal bleeding, blood in the stools or a lump in the tummy area.