Listeria patients are recovering

The Trust declared an outbreak of the infection when a third case came to light on Friday, April 13.

Normally there are between three and five cases of listeria per year in Northern Ireland, however because the three occurred with a very short time frame, an outbreak was declared.

The Trust says it is continuing their work with the Public Health Agency and Environmental Health Officers in relevant councils to conduct a detailed investigation of potential sources of the infection.

Listeria is an uncommon infection in hospitals and is usually food borne, most often in ready to eat refrigerated and processed foods such as chilled meats, soft cheeses, cold cuts of meat, pates and smoked fish.