The Southern Health Board yesterday confirmed the water supply at St Stephen's Hospital at Glanmire on the outskirts of Cork city has been contaminated by E.coli bacteria.
"Slight traces of E.coli have been found in one sample, and as a precautionary measure the hospital is advised to ensure that all water is boiled for four minutes," the health board said in a statement.
The traces were discovered following routine tests by SHB environmental health officers on the water supply system at the hospital. The hospital caters for 227 patients and has a staff of 149. The vast majority of patients at St Stephen's are psychiatric patients but it also caters for a small number of vulnerable elderly patients suffering from senile dementia. Residents in 12 houses near the hospital who get their water from the hospital reservoir have been warned about the bug, whose strain has not yet been identified by SHB environmental health officers.
A SHB spokesperson said there had been no reports of any patients at St Stephen's or nearby residents contracting the bug or being taken ill. Bottled water was being used at the hospital, added the spokesperson.
Cork County Council - which supplies water to the hospital - said its checks had shown the supply to the hospital to be clear.
It is believed the contamination may have originated in the hospital's water distribution system.
