PHA completes on-site work at Harland and Wolff following pneumococcal outbreak

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has now completed its on-site work at Harland and Wolff in Belfast following an outbreak of pneumococcal disease linked to the premises.

A small number of people who had been working on the site contracted pneumococcal disease. Whilst the risk of this infection being passed on is likely to be extremely low, as a precaution and in accordance with national advice, employees and contractors working in high-risk exposure areas were identified as greater risk, and offered preventative antibiotics and vaccination. Over the past number of days around 650 workers were offered these preventative measures.

The PHA continues to work with the Health & Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) and provide public health advice to Harland and Wolff.There is no wider risk to the public from pneumococcal disease as regards this outbreak.

ENDS