Three more children in Cork have been confirmed as having contracted TB, bringing the total number of cases in the city in recent weeks to 16.
Of the confirmed cases, 14 are children, while two adults have displayed symptoms of the condition.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) in Cork plans to set up further vaccination clinics for children attending two creches affected by the TB outbreak - Panda Paws preschool and childcare facility in Little Island and Nurture Childcare in Douglas on the southside of Cork city.
Chest X-rays are also being organised for 220 children following the confirmation of the new cases, with the first X-rays taking place last Friday.
The HSE has emphasised that children cannot pass TB to other children as it can only be transmitted from adult to child.
The two adults who contracted TB are former childcare workers at the two creches.
The children who contracted TB are attending a consulting paediatrician, while an unspecified number of children have started antibiotic therapy on the basis of test results that showed a latent form of the disease.
TB has an incubation period of two to 12 weeks.
Dr Margaret O'Sullivan, consultant in public health medicine at HSE South, said that its outbreak control teams and its expert advisory group were working together to control the TB outbreak in the most appropriate manner.
"It is being managed in line with most recent international guidance and following consultation with international colleagues who have experience in the management of similar-type outbreaks abroad."
Meanwhile, all new babies in Cork will be offered the BCG vaccine against tuberculosis from October. Previously the vaccine was only administered to children deemed at risk of contracting TB.
In the interim, management will be making provisions to set up additional vaccination clinics to address the current waiting list. Parents will be contacted to attend a clinic appointment.
According to the HSE, the national immunisation guidelines state that the effectiveness of BCG in preventing TB has varied in studies over the year. However, the HSE said it was recommended that neo-natal BCG be continued.
A HSE information line at Cork Lo-call 1850 742 000 is available to co-ordinate queries from parents about the BCG vaccine.
It can be contacted Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. On Saturday the HSE national information line 1850 24 1850 can be contacted from 8am to 8pm.
Cork has been without a TB diagnostic laboratory since it closed last month to allow for the building of a new facility. The new laboratory is expected to be completed this year.