No water link to stomach illness

Local water comes from the Mynydd Llandegai water treatment works

Six cases of stomach illness in part of north Wales are not linked to drinking water, it has been confirmed.

The cases followed notices to boil supplies for 45,000 customers in parts of Anglesey and Gwynedd.

However, health officials say tests have shown that a different strain of the cryptosporidium bug was responsible for sickness.

However a seventh separate case is now being investigated, and people are being urged to continue boiling water.

The water company first issued the boil notice to customers at the end of August after finding levels of the cryptosporidium parasite at the Mynydd Llandygai treatment works near Bangor.

The National Public Health Service for Wales was informed of the six cases of cryptosporidiosis, the sickness caused by the bug, on Anglesey and in Gwynedd last Friday, but said tests have now ruled out any link to the water plant.

AREAS ADVISED TO BOIL DRINKING WATER Bangor, Bangor side of Felinheli (marina), Beaumaris, Bethesda, Capel Curig, Cwm y Glo Gaerwen , Gallt y Foel, Gerlan, Llanddaniel, Llanddeiniolen, Llandegai Llandegfan, Llanfaes, Llanfairpwll, Llangoed, Menai Bridge, Mynydd Llandygai Pentir, Rachub, Rhiwlas, Sling, Talybont, Tan y Foel, Tregarth Source: Welsh Water

Dr Judy Hart, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control for the National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHSW), said: "We are confident that the six cases identified last week were not infected as a result of drinking water from Mynydd Llandygai.

"They have a different type of cryptosporidium to that found in the water.

She added: "From interviews by the environmental health officers, we have also identified other possible explanations for how five of the six caught the infection. Some have been travelling abroad recently. Others have had close contact with animals."

New case

Environmental health officers have interviewed the new case and further tests on samples are being carried out by the UK Cryptosporidium Reference Unit.

"Given the new case, it is important, on a precautionary basis, that people in the areas affected continue to boil their water as requested by Dŵr Cymru" said Dr Hart.

We are still actively looking for cases of cryptosporidium Dr Judy Hart, NPHSW

"It is also important that people practise good personal hygiene to prevent spread of disease."

Due to the incubation period, cryptosporidium cases which occur for several more weeks will be investigated by public health officials to determine if they are linked to water from Mynydd Llandygai.

Dr Hart said: "We are still actively looking for cases of cryptosporidium. If people are ill with a bad case of diarrhoea they should see their doctor."

Dwr Cymru has completed installation of ultra violet equipment at its Mynydd Llandygai works.

The company said the boil water notice must stay in force until it is sure that water in the distribution system has been cleared and replaced by supplies treated by the ultra violet system.

It is the third time within three years that the water company has issued warnings over the supply in north Wales.

For several days in mid-August, almost 5,000 people in parts of Gwynedd were also advised to boil their tap water after the quality was affected by heavy rainfall.

In November 2005, 231 people were left ill in Gwynedd and Anglesey after cryptosporidium affected a Snowdonia reservoir.