Workers and former employees of a north-east fish processing firms are being offered screening for tuberculosis.

The move follows a trio of confirmed cases of the infection connected to Fraserburgh-based Whitelink Seafoods.

All current and former staff who worked at the firm’s factory in the town’s Maxwell Place between September-November 2015 and October-December 2014 are being offered skin tests to detect latent and active TB infection.

A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian confirmed three people, who have a history of employment at the factory, had been infected with pulmonary tuberculosis.

The first case was spotted in December 2014.

The spokeswoman said: “Subsequently, in June 2015, an ex-employee who had not worked at Whitelink Seafoods for several months was diagnosed with TB.

“This person had not had close contact with the first case while employed at Whitelink and it was not possible to determine if the source of their infection was in the wider community or linked to their previous employment at Whitelink.

“A third person was diagnosed with TB in December 2015.

“This person had been a close contact of the first case and had been screened by chest X-ray earlier in the year when no evidence of TB disease had been found.

“It is possible this person initially became infected with TB bacteria through close contact with the first case, but the bacteria had remained latent for several months before becoming active and causing symptoms.”

Charles Buchan, chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s fisheries working group, said he was concerned for the workers affected.

“I’m very concerned about their wellbeing, and I hope their health issues get sorted out quickly,” he added.

“I hope the number involved is restricted to just three. I’m glad that the management are being proactive with the testing of all workers.”

TB attacks the lungs and can develop into a persistent cough.

It can also cause breathlessness which gradually gets worse, a lack of appetite and extreme tiredness.

It can be fatal if left untreated.

Although the UK has a longstanding immunisation programme, there have been cases of TB among migrant workers in the north and north-east over the past few years.

Whitelink declined to comment last night.

Source:   http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/north-east/fraserburgh/826663/tuberculosis-outbreak-hits-north-east-fish-factory/