Two people have died after being infected by a deadly flesh-eating bug in the west of Ireland, it was confirmed today.
The Health Service Executive revealed a rare deep tissue infection had killed two people in separate counties in the western health region.
A HSE spokeswoman said the deaths had occurred in the last few weeks and that it was unusual for two people to die of the same bug in such a short space of time.
"We can confirm that two people in the region died as a result of the infection in the past number of weeks. I have been assured that the infections were acquired in the community," she said.
"One person died in hospital and another was found to have the infection following a post mortem examination."
The spokeswoman refused to name the hospital were one person died or where the other victim was from. She added samples from the bacterial infection had been sent to laboratories for further tests. The spokeswoman stressed the deadly infection had not been contracted in any of the health regions hospitals.
The rare infection, necrotising fasciitis - commonly known as flesh-eating disease - is caused by bacteria and is found deep under the skin in tissue surrounding muscles.
Around one in four people who become infected with the bug usually die. Symptoms include fever, severe pain, and a red, painful swelling which spreads rapidly. Death can occur in 12 to 24 hours.
PA