HSE responds to baffled parents as 100 teenagers become sick after disco

The HSE has responded to baffled and concerned parents after 100 teenagers were struck down with illness after a disco in Kerry last week.

The HSE South West Public Health team were inundated with calls from parents of the children who appeared to all catch the same illness after the event. 

One parents was quoted in the Irish Independent as saying it was "baffling" as her child did not consume any food or drink at the disco. She said no one else in their household caught was the HSE has now said was probably a virus.

“If it was a bug you would think some-one else would catch it...If it was COVID it would be the same," she remarked to the Irish Independent.

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A HSE statement has since been released. It reads: "HSE South West Public Health (Cork and Kerry) and Environmental Health were notified last week of a number of teenage cases of a gastroenteritis-type illness. These teenagers had attended recent disco events in the North Kerry area.

"The investigation is ongoing, with the possibility of a viral cause involving person-to-person spread likely."

They also indicated that there was no further need for parents to contact them over the incident.