An outbreak of a bacterial infection has been confirmed following the Big Tribute festival in Aberystwyth, Wales, which took place from August 22 to 24. Several attendees have contracted O26 Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC), a potentially life-threatening infection.

Public Health Wales has declared the outbreak and is collaborating with Ceredigion County Council and Hywel Dda University Health Board to investigate the cases. A spokesperson for Public Health Wales stated, "Public Health Wales has been working with colleagues in Ceredigion County Council and Hywel Dda University Health Board to investigate a small number of laboratory-confirmed cases of O26 Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC) linked to a festival in Aberystwyth earlier this year."

The spokesperson added, "An outbreak was declared because the cases were genomically linked. There is no ongoing risk to the general public. Declaring an outbreak is a routine public health action and an outbreak can be declared with as few as two linked cases."

Public Health Wales is actively exploring the source of the infection and has reached out to festival attendees to complete a survey regarding their experience at the event. A report detailing the findings of this outbreak will be published in the future.

O26 STEC is known to cause severe bloody diarrhoea and can lead to serious complications. It is typically transmitted through contaminated food but can also spread through close contact with infected individuals or animals. Wendi Shepherd, deputy director of health protection for Public Health Wales, remarked, "STEC is an unpleasant infection which usually resolves within 10-14 days. However, it can be particularly serious for vulnerable people such as young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems."

Symptoms of STEC infection include mild to bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and dehydration. In severe cases, it can lead to haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that primarily affects the kidneys, as explained by the UK Health Security Agency.

Public Health Wales has expressed gratitude to festival-goers who participated in the survey, as their responses will assist in identifying the source of the infection.