Diagnosis of child brings crèche TB outbreak toll to 21

AN outbreak of TB in Cork has claimed another victim, bringing to 21 the total number of people infected with the disease since it was first notified on March 15.

The latest case has affected a child at Panda Paws Preschool and Childcare facility in Little Island, Co Cork, where five children and one adult have already been diagnosed with the disease. A second crèche in Cork city, Nurture Childcare in Douglas, is also affected by the outbreak.

A total of 12 child cases have been identified at the Douglas crèche in addition to two adult cases. One adult case is infectious, the other is not. The original case, notified on March 15, affected a staff worker at the Little Island crèche who had previously worked at Nurture Childcare. Experts say it is a particularly virulent strain of TB.