TB: Rhondda pub Welcome Inn linked to case as contacts sought

Authorities are investigating the case of TB but say it is not an outbreak

A case of tuberculosis has been identified in someone who went to a pub in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

About 70 close contacts of the person, who had been at The Welcome Inn in Tonypandy, have now been identified.

The have been invited for screening, with the risk to the public described as being low, and no outbreak declared.

Rhondda Cynon Taf council, Public Health Wales and Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board are investigating the bacterial infection case.

"There is nothing to suggest that the person contracted TB at the pub, rather it is thought that they have attended the pub when they unknowingly had the infection," a statement said.

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Elizabeth Marchant of Public Health Wales said TB was difficult to transmit and requires "prolonged contact" with an infectious person, such as living in the same house.

"I would stress that the risk of infection with TB to the general public remains very low," she added.

"The screening being carried out in Tonypandy is a routine part of established infection control procedures, and people invited for screening have been identified as part of the investigations into this case of active TB."

Screening will take place at the pub, and she thanked staff for their help, adding that TB was "curable with a full course of treatment".

This is not the first outbreak of its kind in recent years. An external review was launched into a 31-case outbreak in Carmarthenshire in 2018-19 in which one woman died.

What is tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection which is spread by inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs and sneezes of an infected person

• A bacterial infection spread through inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person

• Mainly affects the lungs, but it can affect any part of the body

• Difficult to catch - you need to spend many hours in close contact with an infected person to be at risk, but is fatal if left untreated

• Curable if treated with the right antibiotics

What are the symptoms?

Public Health Wales has listed the following as the main symptoms

• A cough that lasts for three weeks or longer and worsens

• Fever or high temperature

• Considerable sweating at night

• Unexplained loss of weight

• Fatigue

• Loss of appetite

• Coughing up blood