Illness Experts Call For Lessons To Be Learned From 22 Confirmed Cases

By Rob Dixon

Expert lawyers representing victims of food poisoning outbreaks in the UK and abroad have reiterated their calls for authorities in Wales to fully investigate and prevent the further spread of an outbreak of salmonella in Conwy and Gwynedd.

Public Health Wales (PHW) has confirmed that 22 people have now been diagnosed with salmonella since the middle of July, with 20 of these cases found to relate to the same unique strain of the illness.

Investigations by PHW and environmental health experts from Gwynedd Council and Conwy County Borough Council are ongoing and a source of the outbreak has not yet been identified.

People from North West Wales or those who have visited the area recently and suffered symptoms of diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting or fever have been urged to seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Irwin Mitchell’s illness lawyers have helped hundreds of people who have contracted salmonella in the UK and abroad to gain justice and answers over the outbreak ordeals they have suffered.

The law firm also notably represents victims who suffered salmonella following the Street Spice Food Festival in Newcastle earlier this year.

Suki Chhokar, a Partner and expert in illness claims in Irwin Mitchell’s specialist team, said: “It is incredibly worrying to see that, around one month since the initial reports, the number of cases of salmonella in North West Wales has risen significantly.

“Identifying the source and preventing further spread must be the absolute priority at this point.

“Following this, attention should then turn to a thorough investigation and examination as to how these problems emerged and, most importantly, what could have been done to prevent them from happening at all.

“Such conclusions would undoubtedly play an important role in ensuring that lessons can be learned.

“Salmonella is an incredibly serious bacterial illness and the impact it has on sufferers should not be underestimated. All of those affected by these problems, as well as their families and the wider community, deserve answers over these terrible problems.”

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in relation to Group Claims