ALMOST half of Irish hospitals are without key personnel central to the detection of the potentially fatal MRSA superbug.

ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT superbugs are killing patients, Dr Robert Cunney of the National Disease Surveillance Centre claimed yesterday.

CHILDREN under the age of four are at most risk from a potentially fatal flu virus, according to figures released yesterday.

THE Irish Nurses’ Organisation (INO) has warned that A&E services will be stretched beyond breaking point in hospitals if an outbreak of influenza which is sweeping the country gets worse.

HOSPITALS are to receive stringent guidelines to eliminate the risk of patients contracting CJD through infected surgical equipment.