Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 19 Nov 1991

Vol. 413 No. 1

Written Answers. - Naas (Kildare) Water Contamination.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

139 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if she will outline (a) the total number of people who have suffered ill-effects or have been hospitalised up to 8 November, 1991, following the recent contamination of public water supply in Naas, County Kildare, (b) the symptoms and the likely dangers to public health from this contamination; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The information requested by the Deputy is as follows.

(a) Eighteen people from the Naas area on the distribution of Sunday's Well supply were admitted to Cherry Orchard Hospital with gastro-intestinal type symptoms.

(b) The majority of patients complained of nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea which lasted several days. In addition some people complained of headache, general malaise and muscular aches and pains. There has been no notification to the health board of any other health effects from the contamination to date nor is it aware of any occurrence of infectious diseases resulting from the pollution incident. A study is being carried out by the Director of Community Care/Medical Officer of Health concerned in consultation with specialists in public health medicine to determine the health effects of this contamination and general practitioners in the area have been asked to advise the Director of Community Care of any health effects to their patients in the affected area on an on-going basis.