The Southern Health Board has said that more than 100 cases of gastrointestinal illness in people who ate at the same Co Cork restaurant may have been caused by a virus.
The board said 125 cases had been notified on July 2nd, the majority of whom fell ill on the previous day. The restaurant closed voluntarily for a week while an SHB control team sought to identify the source of infection.
Dr Suzanne Cotter of the SHB said food, water and ice were checked but no bacteria were found and it was impossible to isolate a virus. However, further tests were continuing.
Mr Christy O'Sullivan, proprietor of Bawnleigh Country House, near Ballinhassig, Co Cork, said 400 people had attended a barbecue after which up to 40 of them became ill.
"I called in the Southern Health Board myself to thoroughly check out the premises," he said yesterday. "The information I am getting is that the infection was viral but we still don't know the exact cause."
The Southern Health Board is also investigating an outbreak of gastroenteritis at the Apple Computer plant in Cork.