12/04/2024

Wales News Online

Local & National News for Wales

Public Health Wales extends TB screening to meet public demand

PUBLIC Health Wales and Hywel Dda University Health Board are holding an additional tuberculosis (TB) screening session in Llwynhendy this week to meet high public demand for testing as part of a community screening exercise.

Around 1000 people have been screened for TB during the five screening sessions that have already taken place in the Carmarthenshire village this week. 

One session on Wednesday afternoon was extended to meet demand, and an additional session will take place on Thursday 6 June 2019, 8am to 1.30pm, at Llwynhendy Health Centre in the village.

Dr Brendan Mason, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control for Public Health Wales, said: “The community response to the screening exercise has been excellent. The extended and extra session are being offered to ensure that everyone who comes forward can be screened”.

The screening exercise is an attempt to bring under control an ongoing outbreak of TB in Llwynhendy that Public Health Wales and Hywel Dda Health Board have been monitoring and investigating for some time.

There is evidence to suggest that there are a number of as yet unidentified active and latent TB cases in the Llwynhendy population associated with the outbreak. The aim of the current screening exercise is to identify these cases so that the affected individuals can proceed to treatment and the outbreak can be brought under control.

Dr Mason added: “We are particularly keen for adults who were customers or employees of the Joiners Arms public house in Llwynhendy between 2009 and 2010 and may have been in contact with the first cases in this outbreak to attend for screening, so we urge those people in particular come forward for the remaining screening session.”

Public Health Wales advises anyone who is unsure whether they should attend for screening to call the dedicated helpline on 02920 827 627 to discuss their eligibility.

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