New sickness cases investigated

New ultra-violet equipment has been installed at the Mynydd Llandygai plant

A further two cases of stomach sickness are being investigated as people in parts of north Wales are being asked to boil drinking water.

Boil water notices were sent to 45,000 customers in parts of Anglesey and Gwynedd in August.

A total of nine people in the area have been made ill by the cryptosporidium bug.

However, health officials have ruled out a link to a water treatment plant in seven of the cases.

Dŵr Cymru first issued the boil notices after finding levels of the cryptosporidium parasite at the Mynydd Llandygai treatment works near Bangor.

The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHSW) said it was informed of the six cases of cryptosporidiosis, the sickness caused by the bug, on Anglesey and in Gwynedd a week ago, but said tests had 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

A further case of illness was confirmed on Wednesday, and is being investigated along with the two new instances revealed on Friday.

Tests are being carried out at by the UK Cryptosporidium Reference Unit, to see if the bug matches the type found at Mynydd Llandygai.

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

Precaution

However, 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.

Dr Judy Hart, consultant in communicable disease control for the NPHSW, said: "It is important, on a precautionary basis, that people in the areas affected continue to boil their water as requested by Dŵr Cymru.

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

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."

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.