TRACES of the norovirus have been found in samples from people taken ill who had visited a garden centre.
An investigation was launched by public health officials after 40 people who’d been at the Old Railway Line Garden Centre in Three Cocks on Mother’s Day had fallen ill.
The centre, which remains open, said laboratory tests have since confirmed positive traces of the norovirus also known as the winter vomiting bug. The short lived illness causes vomiting and diarrhoea.
Public Health Wales, which launched the investigation with Powys council’s environmental health department, confirmed it has had positives samples of the norovirus.
The virus is one of the most common stomach bugs in the UK and hospitals across Wales had earlier this month shut wards to prevent the spread of the virus following an outbreak.
The garden centre’s owners, Mark and Christina Cleary, said they had been contacted by a small number of customers who’d visited on Sunday, March 6 who had since experienced symptoms closely matching those of the norovirus currently affecting areas of South Wales.
They said: "We have since co-operated fully with the local environmental health department who have also visited us and complimented us on our usual high standards of hygiene, confirming our five star food hygiene rating and thanked us for our co-operation whilst investigations are ongoing.
"We would like to wish all those affected a full and speedy recovery and we would also like to thank our customers for their understanding and ongoing support."
The centre said it believes an infected person visited it on Mother’s Day. The virus can be spread by people touching contaminated surfaces or objects as it can survive outside the body for several days.
The centre also said some of its staff members were among the 40 people who’d fallen ill and some of those who became unwell had not eaten at the centre on Mother’s Day.
It said approximately 2,500 people had visited the centre on Mother’s Day.