Business as usual at the Old Railway Line Garden Centre after sickness outbreak on Mother's Day
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It was business as usual this week at the award-winning Old Railway Line Garden Centre after a reported 40 people were struck down by sickness following a visit to the store on Mother's Day.
Although investigations by Environmental Health officials are ongoing it's believed the affected customers had symptoms closely matching those of a norovirus outbreak currently widespread throughout South Wales.
Katie Eckley, manager at the garden centre located in Three Cocks between Brecon and Hay-on-Wye, told GTN Xtra: "We're still waiting for the official report on the cause of the sickness but there is a belief that a person carrying the norovirus visited the store and then the virus spread. A number of staff have also suffered sickness.
"The Environmental Health officials were happy with our high standard of hygiene, and have allowed the garden centre, including the restaurant, to remain open."
To allay customers' fears, the garden centre posted a statement on its website, which is repeated here in full...
Owner, Mark Cleary said: “We would like to respond to the recent reports in local and national media regarding the recent sickness bug picked up by some customers last Sunday. Although investigations are ongoing and lab results are not yet confirmed we feel we should respond to put our customers' minds at rest.
“Customers we have been in contact with have symptoms closely matching those of the nasty norovirus which is currently widespread throughout South Wales. It is likely that one or two of the hundreds of visitors we welcomed that day has brought the virus or something similar with them and passed it on to others. It is also worth noting that some of the people with the illness did not visit or eat in our restaurant last Sunday.
“The local Environmental Health Officer visited a couple of days ago and has complimented us on our usual high standard of hygiene (confirming our 5* food hygiene rating) and thanked us for our co-operation whilst they investigate.
“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 on-going support. We will keep you updated and issue another release when lab results have been confirmed and more conclusive information is available.”
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