OUTBREAK OF E.COLI CONNECTED TO SUMMER FESTIVAL

PUBLIC Health Wales has confirmed several attendees at a Welsh festival this summer, became infected with a bacteria that could prove life-threatening in certain circumstances.

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‘The Big Tribute Festival, which bills itself as the “biggest festival in Wales’, took place at Lovesgrove farm in Aberystwyth from August 22 to 24.

Public Health Wales (PHW) confirmed there was an outbreak of 026 Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC) connected to the event, reports Wales Online.

A “small number” of festival-goers became infected at the event, with officials yet to pinpoint the precise source.

PHW is working alongside Ceredigion County Council and Hywel Dda University Health Board to investigate.

A spokesman said: “Public Health Wales has been working with colleagues in Ceredigion County Council and Hywel Dda University Health Board to investigate a small number of laboratory-confirmed cases of 026 Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC) linked to a festival in Aberystwyth earlier this year.

“An outbreak was declared because the cases were genomically linked. There is no ongoing risk to the general public. Declaring an outbreak is a routine public health action and an outbreak can be declared with as few as two linked cases.

“Public Health Wales continues to explore the source of the infection and contacted those people who had purchased tickets to the festival to complete a survey about their visit.

“The report into this outbreak will be published in due course.

Symptoms of STEC include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever. Some people may have mild diarrhoea or even no symptoms at all.