Irish tourists visiting Spain have been warned over a deadly listeria outbreak, with 150 cases already confirmed.
And there are 500 more suspected cases with authorities waiting on test results on patients believed to be affected.
Listeria is a rare bacterial infection caused by contaminated food and can be deadly. It can usually be traced to dairy products, pre-packed sandwiches and processed meats.
A health alert has been declared in the city of Seville after several cases were confirmed following the death of a 90-year-old woman, the Express reports.
Most of the declared cases have been reported in the Andalusia region, which includes Costa del Sol, popular with thousands of Irish holidaymakers.
It covers the resorts of Marbella, Torremolinos and Fuengirola, as well as the area around Gibraltar.
The Andalusia health ministry admitted more cases will emerge in the next few days "because the incubation period is very variable, it goes from a few days from the moment of consumption to 70 days.”
However, authorities have been criticised over the time it took to get lab results confirming the outbreak.
A spokesman said: "We are perfectly controlling adverse effects.
"Could it have been done faster? Well, I don't know, but I do know that when the positive result came to us on August 14, the alert was automatically decreed, the protocols for primary and hospital care were opened and assistance began.
“That's the important thing and also to take care of patients; that's what we focus on."
Andalusia is the most affected region with 132 patients, but there are cases in four other regions of Spain.
Cases have also been recorded in capital Madrid, and the regions of Extremadura, Aragon and Catalonia.
