An investigation is underway after a boarding school and a hotel in the midlands had to be closed temporarily due to outbreaks of gastroenteritis.
Outbreaks of the infection occurred yesterday at the Cistercian College, Roscrea, Co Tipperary, and the County Arms Hotel, Birr, Co Offaly, on Monday.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and the Midland Health Board said last night it was not yet known if the outbreaks were linked or what food-borne microbe was responsible.
However, it has been confirmed that three students from the college who visited Birr developed symptoms of the infection when they returned to the school.
A preliminary investigation into a number of cases at the hotel indicates a problem with its water supply, according to the Midland Health Board.
A statement from the Cistercian College said that since the students returned from Birr "a number of other students have developed similar symptoms, but it has not yet been confirmed if the subsequent cases are linked to those already identified in Birr".
There have been no reported hospital admissions associated with the outbreaks at the hotel, which closed voluntarily "in the interests of staff and patrons" said the hotel in a statement.
As regards the outbreaks in the school, a statement from the Midland Health Board said: "In view of the number of cases involved, the school management, in co-operation with the board, agreed to close for 48 hours." The college's 310 boarders, were sent home yesterday afternoon.
The board said it was discussing both outbreaks with the FSAI and the National Disease Surveillance Centre. Other health boards have been informed.
"It is not clear at this stage if all of those most recent cases are related to cases already identified in Birr."
Dr Emer O'Connell, Senior Area Medical Officer, Laois/Offaly, Community Care Area, said the school and the hotel were both co-operating with the Board's Public Health Department. The situation in both premises would be reviewed "on receipt of further laboratory tests", she said.
Hotel management said an alternative source of water was now in place, and the premises would remain closed until the investigation was carried out.
The Cistercian College said the school, in conjunction with the health board, had issued guidelines to parents and students on the prevention and spread of gastroenteritis.