Student dies of Tuberculosis at University of Wales Trinity St David’s campus

Health officials have confirmed the death with Tuberculosis (TB) of a student at the Lampeter campus of University of Wales Trinity St David.

Public Health Wales says it is working with Hywel Dda University Health Board and the university to identify close contacts of the deceased and offer them TB screening.

It has also ruled out any link between the case and the ongoing outbreak of TB at Llwynhendy, Carmarthenshire.

Sion Lingard, Consultant in Health Protection for Public Health Wales, said: “A multi-agency Incident Management Team (IMT) has been convened to look into this case and any control measures that are needed.

Prolonged contact

“The risk to the general public remains very low, as TB is difficult to transmit. It requires close and prolonged contact with an infectious individual, such as living in the same household, for a person to become infected.

“We are in the process of identifying close contacts of the deceased to offer them TB screening by Hywel Dda University Health Board and providing advice to staff and students of the university.

“TB is curable with a full course of treatment.”

PHW is encouraging anyone suffering from a combination of an unexplained prolonged cough (sometimes this may include coughing up blood), unexplained weight loss or night sweats to seek advice from their GP.

In an official statement Public Health Wales offered condolences to the family and friends of the deceased, adding It won’t comment any further on the death pending further investigations.

An independent review into the TB outbreak in Llwynhendy was announced last month. Since the first case was detected in in 2010, one person has died, and more than 250 cases have been identified.

More information on tuberculosis is available from NHS 111 Wales.