More than 40 people have fallen sick after eating at a pub in Wales.
Public Health Wales received 43 reports of illness in people who had meals at the Corner House Inn in Llangynwyd, Maesteg. The agency said Clostridium perfringens was behind the illnesses.
People became unwell after a meal on Nov. 30. The business was temporarily closed while the restaurant had a deep clean and was sanitized. It reopened on Dec. 2.
Clostridium perfringens develops spores which can survive cooking and grow during slow cooling and unrefrigerated storage of food.
Siobhan Adams, consultant in health protection at Public Health Wales (PHW), said: “PHW, working 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 ate food prepared at the premises. 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 further cases associated with this incident. We would like to thank the business for the constructive and proactive way they have engaged with our investigation.”
Meat products such as stews or casseroles, and on carveries are the most common sources of illness from Clostridium perfringens. Most outbreaks are linked to poor temperature control of food.
People generally 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. Illness usually lasts around 24 hours and is rarely fatal.
In posts on Facebook, the restaurant owners said they contacted the environmental health department after people who had been to the outlet became ill. Tests found Clostridium perfingens but investigations are still ongoing.
The restaurant remains open and owners of the Corner House Inn said they are working with officials to ensure the safety of customers and staff.
