A programme of screening for around 250 people who may have been exposed to tuberculosis (TB) begins in the lower Rhondda Cynon Taf area on Tuesday 9 March.

The first session of the community screening programme, which is the first of its kind in Wales, will take place from 5pm to 7pm at the Glyncoch Christian Fellowship Church, Garth Avenue, Glyncoch.

Subsequent screening sessions will take place on the following dates:

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

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

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.

“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.”

To access the previous press release on TB in Rhondda Cynon Taf, issued on 23 February 2010, visit http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/news.cfm?orgid=719&contentid=15648

Further information about TB is available at:
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/page.cfm?orgId=719&pid=25163

People can also join the “TB (tuberculosis) in Wales” page on Facebook for more information and to ask questions.

Public Health Wales will not confirm or deny further details about the cases in order to protect their right to confidentiality.