25/7/2008

The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS) and Environmental Health colleagues at Powys County Council are investigating reports of a number of cases of illness following a biking event.

The NPHS has received a report of eight people who became ill with diarrhoea and/or vomiting after attending the Merida mountain bike event in Builth Wells between July 5 and 6.

They are asking that anyone who attended the event and became ill afterwards contacts Powys County Council Environmental Health department.

An online questionnaire is being set up and details will be emailed to people known to have attended the event.

Anyone who attended the event but does not receive details of the questionnaire should contact the NPHS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre on 029 2040 2472.

Dr Mac Walapu, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control with the NPHS, said: "We were contacted via our website on July 17 and told of eight cases of illness in non-residents following the event, and investigations by our Environmental Health colleagues in Powys have established that a number of local people were also ill, and that others reported illness on the event's internet forum.

"Anyone who attended the event and is now having, or has recovered from, symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting should contact Powys County Council Environmental Health department."