Three further cases of severe illness among heroin users have been identified in the Eastern Regional Health Authority region, bringing the total so far to 19, writes Frank McNally.
Eight people in the region have died from the apparent contamination of the drug. But the ERHA says two of the three latest victims are recovering and one has been discharged from hospital.
Following the confirmation of the illness among heroin users in Dublin four weeks ago, the ERHA wrote to GPs, drug treatment clinics and hospitals asking them to be alert to similar symptoms in drug users presenting for treatment.
The latest victims are presumed to be part of the same outbreak, since in each case the symptoms began in early June, but the ERHA is investigating.
A British health laboratory unit last week identified a clostridial bacterium as the likely cause of the illnesses.