TB man's contacts screened

Authorities are contacting pub regulars

Health officials are screening close friends and family of an Edinburgh man who is suspected to have contracted tuberculosis.

The outbreak has been linked to the Bunch o' Roses pub at Restalrig in the city.

A spokesman for the Lothian NHS Board said he was aware of one confirmed and one suspected case of tuberculosis.

Public health authorities are also in the process of contacting regulars at the Bunch o' Roses

Lothian NHS Board

Screening of staff started in October, immediately following diagnosis of the first case, a barmaid at the Bunch o' Roses.

The second case was diagnosed on 6 December and the man is now undergoing treatment at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

A statement from the NHS Board's health protection team said: "Individuals already identified as needing screening are being contacted by the TB service.

Public risk

"Public health authorities are also in the process of contacting regulars at the Bunch o' Roses for routine screening by the TB service.

"The risk to the general public and casual contacts who may have just passed through the pub is minimal."

The outbreak follows infection of three regulars at a British Legion club in Cumbernauld and the deaths of two men after contracting TB in a Glasgow pub.

There are about 400 cases of TB every year in Scotland, and an estimated 10% of patients die.