24/2/2010

An outbreak of tuberculosis in Rhondda Cynon Taf is linked to an outbreak in the area in 1996.

Twenty six confirmed cases of TB linked to the 1996 outbreak have been identified in people associated with the lower Rhondda Cynon Taf area, says Public Health Wales.

People who may have been exposed to the illness are being offered testing by Public Health Wales and Cwm Taf Health Board.

Around 250 people in the lower Rhondda Cynon Taf area will receive letters inviting them to be tested for TB during the community screening programme starting in early March. The community screening programme is the first of its kind in Wales.

Community screening sessions will start on 9 March at the Glyncoch Christian Fellowship Church, Garth Avenue, Glyncoch.

Although priority will be given to those who have received a letter, anyone in the local community concerned about their risk of TB is also welcome to attend for advice and screening.

Public Health Wales has been monitoring the number of new TB cases associated with the lower Rhondda Cynon Taf area.

It has found that in nearly all of the new cases of TB diagnosed, the strain identified is the same one that was found in an outbreak of TB dating back to 1996. Almost all of the new cases of TB have been diagnosed in people identified as contacts of cases from the 1996 outbreak.

TB is an infection usually found in the lungs, but any part of the body can be affected. Anyone can catch TB by breathing in the bacteria in tiny droplets sneezed or coughed out by someone who has TB in their lungs.

The most common symptom of TB is a persistent cough for more than three weeks, with spit which can sometimes be blood-stained. Other symptoms can include weight loss, a high temperature, and sweating, particularly at night.

Dr Gwen Lowe, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control for Public Health Wales, said: “If you have been identified as a close contact of someone with TB from this outbreak you may still be at risk of catching it and will need to be tested, even if the contact was a long time ago and you have been tested for TB before.

“We are urging everyone who receives a letter to come forward and get tested regardless of whether they have symptoms or not. TB is a slowly evolving disease. Some people develop TB after a few weeks or months, whereas others may have no symptoms but still have the TB germ and may become ill many years later.

“We hope the community screening programme will stop the TB from spreading any further.�

Screening for TB involves a simple skin test called a Mantoux which is read 2-3 days after it has been given and shows whether the patient has been exposed to the TB germ. In some circumstances an additional chest x-ray or blood test may be required.

Dr Lowe continues: “TB is potentially a very serious disease and can be fatal. It is difficult to catch but easy to treat. It occurs in all countries and at all ages, and this outbreak is no exception.

“The way we screen for TB has also changed and the new screening process is better at finding people who have caught the TB germ.

“Some people may think they do not need to get tested because they had the BCG vaccination against TB when they were younger. This is not the case. The BCG only offers limited protection against TB and we now know the protection from the vaccination lessens over time.

“There are very effective treatments available to cure TB, but prevention remains better than cure. Early detection, especially through screening programmes such as this, is important in reducing the spread of the disease to others.�

TB in Wales, and other industrialised countries, declined rapidly during the 20th century due mainly to better living conditions and the development of effective treatments. However, it has never completely disappeared. There are some areas in Wales where TB has lingered, particularly in old mining communities and areas where there were high rates of TB in the past.

Public Health Wales is notified of around 200 cases of TB each year in Wales.

The screening sessions will take place at Glyncoch Christian Fellowship Church, Garth Avenue, Glyncoch on the following dates:

9 March: 5.00-7.00pm
10 March: 9.30am-12.30pm
16 March: 5.00-7.00pm
17 March: 9.30am-12.30pm