Restaurant outbreak sickens 43 people in Wales
More than 40 people have fallen ill after eating in a pub in Wales.
Public Health Wales has received 43 reports of illness in people who had meals at the Corner House Inn in Llangynwyd, Maesteg. The agency said Clostridium perfringens was the cause of the illnesses.
People became ill after a meal on November 30. The business was temporarily closed while the restaurant was deep cleaned and disinfected. It reopened on December 2.
Clostridium perfringens develops spores that can survive cooking and grow during slow cooling and unrefrigerated storage of foods.
Siobhan Adams, health protection consultant at Public Health Wales (PHW), said: “PHW, in conjunction with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and environmental health officers from Shared Regulatory Services, is concluding its investigation into reports of illness following customers eating Sunday lunch at the Corner House Inn.
“We have received 43 reports of illness in people who consumed food prepared on site. We can confirm that Clostridium perfringens has been identified as the cause of this illness.
“The risk to the public is low and we do not expect to see any further cases associated with this incident. We would like to thank the company for the constructive and proactive way in which they engaged in our investigation.”
Meat products such as stews or stews and meaty meats are the most common sources of Clostridium perfringens illness. Most outbreaks are linked to poor food temperature control.
People usually experience symptoms of infection 6 to 24 hours after consuming the bacteria or toxins. Clostridium perfringens toxins cause abdominal pain and stomach cramps, followed by diarrhea. The illness usually lasts about 24 hours and is rarely fatal.
In Facebook posts, restaurant owners said they contacted the environmental health department after people who had visited the outlet became ill. Tests found Clostridium perfingens but investigations are still ongoing.
The restaurant remains open and the owners of the Corner House Inn said they are working with authorities to ensure the safety of customers and staff.
