Cllr Dwyer said: "I am calling on the South Eastern Health Board to provide some better information regarding the extent and nature of this virus. What measures have been put in place to eradicate it? When, and if can we expect these measures to prevent recurrences?

"This virus is clearly not confined to Hospitals, although it has again seriously disrupted Hospital services in the SE Health Board region this year.

"It is a matter of some disquiet that so many constituents have contracted this virus with all its unpleasant symptoms and are seemingly now expected to accept it as a matter of course, while there has been little or no public information campaign from the Health Board.

"I would call on the South Eastern Health Board to be more proactive in informing the public as to the nature and extent of this virus and whether we must expect it to continue to recur with all of its debilitating consequences?"