Big names escape as RTE is hit by wave of the virus
Collins
HEALTH: Big name stars such as Ryan Tubridy and Miriam O'Callaghan have so far escaped swine flu which has hit 13 RTE employees
Monday November 09 2009
RTE has been hit by a wave of swine flu cases, with at least 13 employees absent from work with the virus.
Some six of these workers have been hit by the life-threatening H1N1 virus in the past two weeks.
None of the top presenters at RTE have contracted the illness so far however, according to a spokesperson.
Exposed
RTE refused to comment on which programmes in particular the sick employees have been working for, but he stressed that "output has not been affected" at the station.
Big names such as Miriam O'Callaghan, Pat Kenny, Ryan Tubridy and Joe Duffy could be exposed to the virus if it spreads throughout RTE's flagship building in Montrose.
However, RTE is adamant that it has the recommended measures in place to keep the virus under control in the midst of the pandemic.
None of the nation's best-known television stars have so far contracted the serious virus, and RTE is adamant that the show will go on.
A spokesperson at the station said that out of around 2,500 employees, 13 staff falling with the H1N1 virus, is a small number.
"The rate across staff is small," he said. "RTE is almost swine flu free -- it's pretty tiny."
He stressed that RTE is working to make all of its employees aware of the issues surrounding swine flu, and means of prevention are already in place at Montrose.
"An item is on our internal internet about it and we've emailed people to make them aware as well."
The spokesperson added that signs educating people about swine flu have been erected all over the building.
"There are signs around the building and antiseptic lotion is also dotted around the buildings," the spokesperson stressed.
Swine flu could have a catastrophic effect on our national TV station, if it took hold.
More than 100,000 people in the State are estimated to have contracted the swine flu virus at this point, and it is estimated that about 2.5pc of the population have been infected.
Reluctant
Former Government minister Dr Jim McDaid was struck by swine flu recently and it almost resulted in the hospitalisation of his three-year-old son Neal.
RTE is home to some of the country's top earners, including Pat Kenny who earned more than €950,000 alone. However, the station is reluctant to comment on the individual sickness of its workers.
hnews@herald.ie
- Geraldine Gittens
