Eleven pupils face TB risk

ELEVEN primary school pupils in Wales have tested positive for tuberculosis after a member of staff was found to be suffering from the illness, writes Liz Hunt.

The staff member had been working at the school for several months before becoming ill and was diagnosed with TB at the end of April.

All 84 pupils, aged 4 to 11, at Tan-y-Grisiau Primary School in Blaenau Ffestiniog and staff members were given skin-prick tests on 5 May to see if they were infected. Eleven children had a 'grade 1 result' which indicated possible exposure to the bacterium, according to Dr Robin Davies, consultant paediatrician with Gwynedd Community Health Trust.

The children have been X- rayed and given clinical examinations. None is said to be serious. The remaining children will be tested again next month to see if any have subsequently developed the infection.