The Food Safety Authority is attempting to improve "information networks" among public health specialists and speed-up the tracing of the sources of food-borne infection, which can be vital to controlling its spread.
This is in response to further indications that food poisoning outbreaks are increasing sharply in line with patterns in other developed countries - the latest total for the past three weeks is seven major salmonella outbreaks which have made more than 300 people ill, 43 of whom required hospital treatment, and one E-coli 0157 outbreak in which three young people were hospitalised.
The FSA is supporting the setting-up of expert groups, who specialise in diseases spread from animals to humans, in each health board area. These would enable speedy exchange of information between doctors, vets, environmental health officers and other professions. Already health boards have established public health departments which has ensured better reporting of and response to outbreaks, according to FSA chief executive, Dr Patrick Wall. Such a group in Cork is believed to have played a positive role in responding to outbreaks there.
As a result of the latest two salmonella outbreaks in Co Clare, 12 people are still in hospital, according to the Mid-Western Health Board - nine are in hospital due to the Ballyvaughan outbreak in which 28 became ill.
The health board is awaiting laboratory results which will confirm the bacterial strain responsible and indicate if there is any link between the two. While those who are in hospital have been very ill, all are recovering, said Dr Kevin Kelleher, Health Board Director of Public Health, yesterday. He added that the salmonella outbreaks at the Shannon Shamrock Hotel in Bunratty and Monk's Seafood Restaurant in Ballyvaughan were under control.
Asked if there was any connection between the outbreak in Ballyvaughan, which is on the southern coast of Galway Bay, and confirmation of salmonella in sea water near Galway city, he said: "My understanding is that there are different types of salmonella [involved]."
Meanwhile, gardai in Galway said there was no indication that swimmers had been put off by notices warning that salmonella had been found in sea water at city beaches, notably in Salthill. A spokeswoman added, however, that the weather at the weekend was not conducive to swimming.