THE HEALTH Service Executive is investigating whether the death of an elderly resident at a community nursing home in Mayo is connected to an outbreak of gastroenteritis, which has struck 12 other residents and five staff members.
Environmental health officers are investigating the outbreak at St Fionnan's community nursing unit in Achill.
The 89-year-old man who died was named locally yesterday as Michael Moran from Faungloss, Clare Island.
It is understood Mr Moran became violently ill with vomiting and diarrhoea on Thursday and that he was treated by a local GP, Dr Paddy Linneen.
A postmortem was carried out at Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar yesterday.
The results are expected to establish whether Mr Moran's death was connected to the outbreak of illness at the nursing unit.
Dr Linneen also attended to other ill patients and staff who were complaining of gastrointestinal symptoms.
At lunchtime yesterday, the HSE said it was investigating suspected food poisoning, but later issued a statement saying it was investigating an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis.
Consultant in public health medicine Dr Regina Kiernan said clinical samples from the patients and also food samples from the nursing home had been sent for laboratory analysis.
The results of these tests are expected within the next few days.
Dr Kiernan said the condition of those who were ill had improved by yesterday morning.
St Fionnan's caters for 32 people, most of whom are aged over 70.
The HSE West said 12 residents were suffering from symptoms of acute gastroenteritis.
"All residents in the community nursing unit are under the care of the local general practitioners and are being cared for by the nursing staff at the unit. Additional staff have been brought in to assist with the care of the residents at this time," it said in a statement.
A multidisciplinary outbreak control team chaired by a public health specialist has been established to investigate the outbreak.
"All infection control measures to control this outbreak have been implemented by the nursing unit in accordance with advice from the environmental health and public health departments," HSE West said.
"Specialist microbiological advice has also been obtained. Investigations and sampling are under way to try to establish the cause of this outbreak."
Viral infection is the most common cause of gastroenteritis, but it can also be caused by bacteria such as campylobacter in contaminated or incorrectly prepared food.
It causes stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting.
The HSE said the most important public health advice to avoid illness such as gastroenteritis was thorough hand washing.
"Hand washing helps prevent spread of many infectious diseases including food poisoning.
"It is also very important that food is cooked thoroughly, and that cooked food and food that is going to be consumed uncooked, eg, salads are stored separately.
"If cooked food is not going to be consumed straight away, it should be chilled or frozen shortly after cooking, and heated up adequately before consumption."
Director of nursing at St Fionnan's, Barbara Moran, said family members of all residents had been contacted to advise them of the outbreak of acute gastroenteritis.
"We have advised these relatives that there are some visiting restrictions in place and to contact the unit in advance of any visits."
Ms Moran extended the sympathy of all those at the unit to the family of the man who died.