Over 50 people have been struck down in a Salmonella food poisoning outbreak in a Co Down town, it was revealed tonight.
The most likely source of the outbreak had been traced to a food outlet in the town, said the local health board.
A total of 56 people have been hit by the bug in Downpatrick in recent days, said the Eastern Health Board.
The number of victims is about twice the number which would be expected in the whole of Northern Ireland at this time of year, according to experts, and was thus considered a serious outbreak.
However there have been no new cases diagnosed in the last 48 hours and the health board was hopeful the outbreak was now under control.
The most likely source of the outbreak, a food premises, has been inspected, but the Eastern Health Board said no serious infringement of food hygiene guidelines had been found.