E.Coli Outbreak in South Wales – an update

As of the latest report from the outbreak control team, the total number of cases in the E.coli outbreak now stands at 156. This has principally been an outbreak in children, with a few cases in adults in the community. Secondary cases have usually been through household contact. While cases continue to pop up and be investigated, let me remind you that the last school-related case through contact with implicated food occurred on 27 September, over two weeks ago. To date, there have been no secondary cases as a result of cross-infection in schools. With regard to the recent incident in Glenboi Primary School, children will return to school as they are cleared of any active infection, and the outbreak control team will undoubtedly keep us informed through press releases of progress in this regard.

Assembly Members will be aware that the BBC has reported  ‘fears that the south Wales E.coli outbreak has spread to an old people’s home after a worker contracted the illness and was told to stay away’. Members will note, however, that the BBC’s website report of 11 October shows that the person involved in this case developed symptoms 11 days previously. This is consistent with the outbreak curve and exposure prior to controls being put in place. The outbreak control team has confirmed that a member of staff at Ty Clyd Residential Home in Bargoed has tested positive for the E.coli 0157 infection. The employee has been off work since the symptoms first developed, and environmental health officers have been working closely with the home to ensure that appropriate steps are being taken to limit the risk of further infection. Anyone in a caring role who has the E.coli infection is treated as a high risk and would be excluded from work. Such people are allowed to return to work only when they are symptom-free and have had two negative tests 48 hours apart. The exclusion of a member of staff combined with enhanced cleaning and the reinforcement of the need for good hygiene practices provides a safe environment for residents. Although it is understandable that people would be concerned in such a situation, there is no evidence from previous experience that this should cause alarm.

I am aware that the parents of Mason Jones from Deri, who, sadly, died during this outbreak, have complained about aspects of his treatment by the NHS when he became ill. This matter is under investigation, and therefore I do not think it appropriate to comment further at this stage.

The Chief Medical Officer for Wales has started his review of the arrangements in place for the protection of public health before and during the outbreak of E.coli in south Wales, commencing September 2005. As the review progresses, he will advise me immediately of any changes required. The CMO will include in his review such matters as current regulation, extant planning guidance, monitoring and enforcement regimes, trigger mechanisms for action, public information, the resources available, and inter-agency working.

A small task group has been established to assist with this work and its members will be fully aware of the findings and recommendations from Professor Pennington’s report on the outbreak in Scotland in 1996. I am confident that the chief medical officer is able to draw on expertise of the highest quality, and am pleased to say that Professor Stephen Palmer, professor of public health at Cardiff University, has agreed to serve as a member of the task group.