Health alert: One person dies from TB while three others are infected in an outbreak in the UK
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection transmitted by inhaling tiny droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze and is a potentially serious condition
Image: MEDIA WALES)
One person has died of tuberculosis in the UK after a leading public health body warned.
Three people have been diagnosed with TB after being in close contact with a student who died from the disease in a Welsh town.
The University of Wales Trinity St David student died in October 2021.
Public Health Wales, Hywel Dda University Health Board and Ceredigion Council are investigating cases of so-called ‘active TB’ (tuberculosis) in people who were in contact with the student.
The three people who were diagnosed with the disease are all “closely linked” to the student who lived on the university’s Lampeter campus in Ceredigion and are now receiving appropriate treatment. Wales Online reports.
A multi-agency outbreak control team has been working with Trinity St David to put the three people in touch and arrange for TB screening.
Public Health Wales insisted the risk to students and staff at the university and to the community at large was very low.
According to the NHS, TB is a bacterial infection transmitted by inhaling tiny droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze.
It primarily affects the lungs but can affect any part of the body, including the abdomen (stomach), glands, bones, and nervous system.
TB is a potentially serious condition, but it can be cured if treated with the right antibiotics.
What are the symptoms of TB?
- A persistent cough that lasts more than three weeks and usually produces phlegm that may be bloody
- weight loss
- night sweats
- high temperature (fever)
- tiredness and exhaustion
- loss of appetite
- swelling in the neck
dr Brendan Mason, Communicable Disease Control Advisor at Public Health Wales, said: “Following well-established outbreak control procedures, we have identified individuals who were in close contact with the person who died.
“These close contacts were contacted and screened for TB, three of whom were found to have active TB.
“Our research has shown that the three people with active TB are all closely linked to the person who sadly passed away in October 2021.
“TB is difficult to transmit. It requires close and prolonged contact with an infectious person for a person to become infected.
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“Therefore, the university community and local residents can rest assured that the risk to the general public is extremely low.
“We have identified all of the deceased’s close contacts and they are receiving the necessary TB screening and follow-up care.
“Work continues to identify the close contacts of the three active TB cases, all of whom will be invited for TB screening by the Hywel Dda University Health Board.
“However, we encourage everyone to be aware of the symptoms of TB.
“If you do have symptoms, we recommend speaking to your GP who can advise you appropriately and refer you for TB screening if needed.”
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https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/health-warning-one-person-dies-27262263 Health alert: One person dies from TB while three others are infected in an outbreak in the UK
