Local Papers Commentary
The Mayo News - 6th February 2002
By Neasa McGarrigle
Feb 6, 2002, 23:45

Gastro-enteritis outbreak closes Castlebar Hospital
The Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar has been closed down due to an outbreak of Gastro-enteritis. The hospital treats mainly elderly people. The virus lasts 48 hours and is highly contagious. So far some of the staff and patients of the Sacred Heart Hospital have contracted the virus but there have also been cases in Mayo General Hospital. Visitors are not allowed to call to the Sacred Heart Hospital and some elective surgeries in Mayo General Hospital have been postponed until a later date.

Anthrax alert in Ballyhaunis
On Monday Ballyhaunis post office had to be shut down because of an anthrax scare. The Gardai, fire-officers and army personnel were called in to examine the white substance that was found on a package. The package was posted to a foreign national in Ballyhaunis but after close examination it was found that the white powder was just a white food substance.

Chambers appeals for Saturday voting to suit students
Senator Frank Chambers has made an appeal to the Government to hold the general election on a Saturday. Mr. Chambers said that a general election on a Saturday would give college students the chance to vote. He also said that the general election in May clashed with many third-level exams and that students doing these exams would not be able to take the day off to vote. If the election was held on a Saturday then they would not have exams on that day.

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