AQUATIDE

NHS alert after Legionnaires' death

Infection controls are under way after a patient died and two other people were seriously ill with Legionnaires' disease, a hospital trust said.

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust said an elderly patient had developed the disease while at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford. Health officials are already undertaking an inquiry after a former guest at a Pontin's holiday camp in Blackpool, Lancashire, was diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease.

The woman is seriously ill in hospital in Birmingham.

The disease is caught by individuals inhaling water droplets which carry the Legionella bacterium. Legionella naturally occurs in the environment. The Trust said staff at the hospital had begun disinfecting shower and bath fittings. It added showers, baths and water births had been temporarily suspended and the hospital's entire water system flushed as a precaution. One case was admitted to the William Harvey Hospital from the community already ill with Legionella infection. The person had not been a recent in-patient, but had visited the hospital for an out-patient appointment during the previous two weeks. The Trust said a patient with no known connection to the William Harvey Hospital died after being admitted to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital already ill with the Legionella infection.

Pool closed after legionella find

A swimming pool has been closed after elevated levels of legionella bacteria were found in the shower water.

Bangor swimming pool in Gwynedd has been closed since Monday after the bacteria, which causes Legionnaires' disease, was found in a routine test. Gwynedd council said the pool itself was free of the bacteria and work had started on disinfecting the showers. The National Public Health Service said it had not received any increase in the number of legionella cases reported. A Gwynedd council spokesman the swimming pool would remain closed until officials are satisfied all test results are clear. "Notices will be placed at the swimming pool entrance and on the council website to inform the public when services will resume," he said.

'Safety'

"The safety of our customers is paramount and all steps are being taken to re-open as soon as it is safe to do so.We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this incident may cause."

The bacteria can cause Legionnaires' disease, a rare form of pneumonia, most often contracted by inhaling mist from water sources. It cannot be passed from one person to another. Dr Judy Hart, consultant in communicable disease control for the National Public Health Service, said local GPs had been informed as a precautionary measure.

"It is reassuring to note that to date, we have not received any increase in the number of legionella cases reported," she said

Legionella contracted in hospital

Test results show that a patient diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease is likely to have contracted it while at Cheltenham General Hospital.

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said there was a small amount of legionella bacteria in a water system. The system supplies four wards in the hospital and has since been cleaned. Water samples taken since the cleaning process have confirmed the system is now safe.

'Eliminated risk'

The spokesman for the hospital said: "Whilst we have no test results that exactly match the strains of the legionella found in both the patient and in the water system, it is likely that the patient did contract the disease from this water supply."

"We would like to reassure members of the public that our hospitals are safe and we are confident that all the actions taken so far have eliminated risk to patients, staff and visitors."

A second case was recorded in the county a few days after the Cheltenham case earlier this month when a man was admitted to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. The cases have not been linked. Legionnaires' disease is most often contracted by inhaling water droplets from water sources such as showers and cooling towers that are contaminated with the legionella bacteria. If the bacteria reaches the lungs it can cause Legionnaires' disease.

The early symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include a "flu-like" illness with muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever.

Legionella bug found in offices

The bacteria which cause Legionnaires' disease have been found at Defra offices in Devon.

The legionella bug was detected at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency's (VLA) offices in Starcross during a routine national testing programme. A Defra spokesman said no staff or members of the public had been infected and the offices were being disinfected. Legionnaires' disease is a rare form of pneumonia, most often contracted by inhaling mist from water sources.

It cannot be passed from one person to another.

Mortality rate

The disease has an incubation period of two to 10 days, but people can become infected with the bacteria without developing symptoms. According to the VLA website, its Starcross labs "provide diagnostic services to veterinary practitioners serving the livestock industry throughout the whole of Devon".

Arrangements are being made to keep staff disruption to a minimum while the "deep clean" is carried out, the Defra spokesman added. The national testing programme was started after a security guard at a government office died of Legionnaires disease in June 2004.

Health experts say the mortality rate for Legionnaires' is between 5% and 30% with medical treatment, and as high as 80% if it is untreated.

Legionella probe at food factory

The bacteria which causes legionnaires disease has been found in a Staffordshire University building.

The university said the water system of the Cadman Building, in College Road, Stoke-on-Trent, would now be cleaned through chemical treatment. It said the legionella bacteria was found during regular checks. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it was still safe to visit and work in the building and the university would continue to operate normally. The water system will be cleaned overnight.

Further tests

Staffordshire University's head of estates, Paul Taylor, said: "To eliminate these bacteria from the water system we need to introduce a chemical into the water supply which will eliminate any bacteria present. This chemical is not suitable for drinking, therefore the process will be carried out overnight. The water system will be fully flushed through by the morning."

Further tests will then be conducted to ensure the bacteria has been removed.

Fears over school legionella bug

A care home has closed after high levels of legionella bacteria were found in its water system.

Staffordshire County Council said The Laurels, home to 10 residents in Stafford, closed with immediate effect once the bacteria was found. It emphasised it was a preventative measure and no-one had been taken ill. The Laurels was due to shut in the New Year as part of the council's recent decision to close 14 of its 21 care homes.

New homes

The authority said all residents were being helped to find new homes of their choice. The Laurels was also used by 18 other people and had 23 staff. Eric Robinson, director of social care and health, said the decision was taken to close the home in the best interests of all involved.

"Expert advice was that the water system needed considerable repairs, which would have meant closing the building for at least a month at a probable cost of £70,000 to £90,000. As the home was scheduled to shut sometime in the New Year it was decided that immediate closure was the only sensible course of action."

Legionella bacteria can cause the potentially fatal Legionnaires' disease