Winter vomiting bug cost taxpayers €9m

The winter vomiting virus which hit Irish hospitals early this year cost the taxpayer almost €9m, according to figures released by the health boards.

Almost 5,000 people contracted the highly infectious virus, one-third of them hospital staff.

The first case was identified in Co Louth in January and was quickly followed by outbreaks in Dublin, Cavan, Roscommon and Mayo.

It then spread slowly throughout the country.

The National Virus Reference Laboratory said hospitals were unprepared for the disease and were forced to cancel non-emergency admissions, cancel elective procedures, restrict visitors and implement infection control measures.