Health update issued after multiple children fall ill at festival
The children have been assessed and Public Health Wales has shared the results
The Llangollen Pavilion which hosts the International Eisteddfod
(Image: International Eisteddfod )
Public Health Wales has issued an update after multiple children fell ill at Llangollen International Eisteddfod. On Wednesday organisers of the festival confirmed that the "extraordinary medical incident" was a "flu-like outbreak" which involved several people reporting the same symptoms.
On Thursday Public Health Wales confirmed that a "small group of children" were affected by the symptoms. The body said the children are in hospital being assessed, but confirmed they are not seriously ill. In a further update on Thursday Public Health Wales confirmed tests carried out on the children indicate the presence of "common respiratory viruses", adding that they are due to be discharged this morning.
Dr Giri Shankar, Director of Health Protection for Public Health Wales said: "The visitors to the Llangollen International Eisteddfod who were assessed in hospital last night will be discharged this morning.
"Tests carried out on these children have indicated the presence of common respiratory viruses, including flu. They are being treated appropriately and are recovering. The risk to the public remains low."
The festival confirmed that the event had been cleared to run as normal on Thursday morning.
It is hosted annually over six days and sees singers and dancers from around the world compete in more than 20 competitions.
Article continues below
It has a huge attendance of over 50,000 over the event and previous performers have included Luciano Pavarotti, Julian Lloyd Webber and Katherine Jenkins.
On Wednesday festival organisers shared: "We can confirm that following the declaration of an extraordinary incident by the Welsh Ambulance Service, following Public Health Wales advice - the incident related to a flu-like outbreak and related to multiple people with similar symptoms.
"The extraordinary incident was called by the Welsh Ambulance Service due to the number of people who presented ill at one time.
"The Llangollen International Eisteddfod takes the safety of its audience, competitors, performers and volunteers extremely seriously.
"Therefore, following advice - we were forced to cancel an event in this way for the first time in our history.
"We are pleased to report our site has been cleared to re-open tomorrow at 9am, as we continue to welcome the world to Wales.
Article continues below
"We'd like to thank our staff, medical staff and our volunteers for their swift response this evening."
Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here .
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Welsh Ambulance Service helps Penarth woman with final wish
Annette 'Nettie' Burtenshaw, a 64-year-old woman from Penarth, was transported from the University Hospital of Wales to Cardiff Castle to perform with her Rock Choir at the City Hospice's Forever Flowers Celebration of Life. The journey was made possible by the Welsh Ambulance Service's Wish Ambulance initiative, which she was the 100th journey made. Ed O'Brian, clinical lead for palliative and end of life care at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: "Reaching the 100th Wish Ambulance journey is such a special moment for Team Wish. "It's a powerful reminder of what kindness, teamwork and compassion can achieve. "What makes this milestone even more special is that it's entirely driven by the incredible Welsh Ambulance Service volunteers, who are the heart and soul of every Wish journey." The Wish Ambulance initiative, launched in 2019, helps terminally ill patients across Wales take meaningful final trips. Journeys have included visits to concerts, sporting events, birthday parties, the beach and more. In Ms Burtenshaw's case, the Wish Ambulance enabled her to perform one last time with her choir. Ms Burtenshaw, who was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2021 and later with bone cancer, described the experience as "amazeballs." She said: "I can't put into words how much it meant to perform again with the choir. "There was no way on earth I could have done it without the Wish volunteers, they were angels. "From the bottom of my heart, thank you." The program is supported by more than 500 off-duty ambulance workers who volunteer their time and use non-emergency vehicles. Mark Harris, assistant director of operations (ambulance care) at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: "We're very grateful and proud of our wonderful team of volunteers."
Western Telegraph
5 days ago
- Western Telegraph
Pembrokeshire woman taking on 5K challenge in New York
Jasmyn Collings, who grew up in Pembrokeshire, is running the challenge in New York City to raise vital funds for Pathway Counselling, a mental health charity in west Wales. The charity, which has helped hundreds through trauma, anxiety, grief and emotional crisis, recently had to introduce paid counselling due to a lack of funding. Ms Collings said: "I'm not a runner. "I never have been. "Even running 60 seconds feels like my lungs are collapsing. "So I decided to set myself a challenge that feels completely out of reach — to reflect what it feels like when you're battling with your mental health. "I grew up in Pembrokeshire. "I know what it feels like to be struggling in a rural place, where services are far away and it feels like no one is there." She is currently training for her first 5K using the Couch to 5K programme. She said: "This isn't a marathon. "It's a 5K. "But when your mental health is suffering, even 60 seconds of running, or getting out of bed, or making a meal or showering can feel like a marathon. "That's what I want people to see." Pathway Counselling has received more than 1,000 referrals in the past year. It offers free and low-cost, trauma-informed counselling to anyone in Pembrokeshire who needs it, with no diagnosis or GP referral required. Ms Collings said: "All they want to do is provide free counselling but they've had to introduce additional paid services just to survive. "And more than 84 per cent of their clients say they couldn't afford therapy if it wasn't free. "So what happens then?" Public Health Wales reports that more than one in five people in Wales now experience a mental health problem. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among young people, and rural areas like Pembrokeshire often have the highest need but the fewest resources. Ms Collings said: "Pathway is one of the only places people can turn to without months of waiting. "And it's not just about saving this service — it's about saving the lives of people who desperately need it. "Through vital mental health support." Despite receiving only three donations so far, she remains determined to complete the challenge. She said: "If this run helps one person feel less alone, or one person get support they wouldn't have had — it's worth it." To support the fundraiser and help Pathway Counselling continue offering free mental health support in Pembrokeshire, visit:
Leader Live
11-08-2025
- Leader Live
Concerns over jobs for paramedic graduates in Wales
Figures have revealed that just 20 of the 67 paramedic graduates in Wales, funded in part by the Welsh Government, have been offered jobs by the Welsh Ambulance Service (WAS) this year. This is despite the Welsh Ambulance Service requesting 86 Paramedics to be trained and paid for through Welsh Government funding. The figures were revealed by Senedd candidate for Swansea and Gower Sam Bennett and Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader and Senedd Member Jane Dodds, acting on reports from local residents and writing to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles, for confirmation, which he has since done. The Welsh Liberal Democrats are now calling on the Welsh Government to "urgently intervene" and create more posts so as to prevent the time and money spent training much-needed qualified Paramedics from being wasted. Commenting on the figures, Jane Dodds MS said: 'With record response times across Wales, the Welsh Government have an opportunity here to get more trained Paramedics responding to incidents. We cannot afford to lose these highly skilled professionals, especially not at a time when the NHS is under this much pressure. 'It is shocking, despite funding 86 Paramedic Students to be trained, that less than half will be recruited. At a time when Paramedics are desperately needed to help improve Ambulance response times, that so few are to be hired is a scandal. 'The Welsh Government should now step in and ensure that these trained and qualified Paramedics are hired to relieve the strain on the Welsh Ambulance Service.' TOP STORIES TODAY Unite confirms that bin strikes WILL go ahead in Wrexham New burger restaurant 'Smashies' opens its doors in Wrexham In response to the concerns raise, Carl Kneeshaw, the Welsh Ambulance Service's Director of People, said: 'As a result of changes to skill mix, changes in working patterns and the financial landscape within the NHS, we unfortunately initially found ourselves in the challenging position of not being able to offer Newly Qualified Paramedic roles to a number of recent graduates from Welsh universities. 'However, we have worked in collaboration with colleagues from Health Education and Improvement Wales and partner organisations across NHS Wales to find solutions, and we are really pleased to say that we will be able to offer roles in the near future to those graduates who were successful at interview.' In their response, the Welsh Government added: "We are committed to ensuring our investment in NHS education and training is supported by meaningful employment opportunities. 'This includes exploring alternative employment within the NHS, including roles in emergency care, accident and emergency, and primary care settings, for the students affected. 'We are working closely with the Welsh Ambulance Services Trust, Health Education and Improvement Wales and universities to address these challenges and support graduates.'
