Public Health Wales (PHW) is investigating a cluster of four cases of tuberculosis (TB) identified among men within the Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) Parc in Bridgend over the past nine months.
The HMP Parc, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board will collaboratively conduct a screening programme in January 2020 for individuals in closest contact with those diagnosed. Investigations are underway and additional advice or screening will be provided if required.
All four individuals diagnosed with TB are said to have responded well to treatment. As of now, no outbreak has been declared, but the situation is being actively monitored.
Siôn Lingard, a consultant at PHW, said: "TB is difficult to catch, and requires close and prolonged contact with an infectious individual, for a person to become infected. Nevertheless, due to some prison staff being in close contact with prisoners with TB, we will be screening staff at the prison early in the New Year."
