Seven confirmed and 13 suspected cases of Legionnaires' disease

The number of people diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease has increased to seven confirmed cases and 13 unconfirmed.

Six of the seven men with the condition are in intensive care and one is being treated at a high dependency unit.

A further 13 suspected cases in the south west area of Edinburgh are being investigated, NHS Lothian said.

There is one other person who has recovered and been discharged. All 21 cases are linked geographically to the Dalry, Gorgie and Saughton areas of the city.

Tests are being carried out to trace the source of an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease which has left six men in hospital.

Samples have been taken from four cooling towers in south west Edinburgh while investigations into the source of the outbreak continue. Health chiefs say it may be up to ten days before results of the samples are available.

Those responsible for maintenance at the cooling towers locations have been advised to carry out additional chemical treatment to the water in the cooling systems as a precautionary measure.

However the health board said that other possible sources are not being ruled out.

Duncan McCormick, consultant in public health medicine and chair of the incident management team, said: "Investigations into the possible source of this outbreak are ongoing and we continue to urge anyone who develops symptoms of Legionnaires' disease to contact NHS 24 or go to their GP."

Bacteriology expert Professor Hugh Pennington said it can be hard to trace the source of a Legionnaires' outbreak.

He said: “It’s a serious kind of pneumonia usually, most people get better but unfortunately some don’t because its such a serious pneumonia and it has other effects.

“It can affect the way you think and it can affect your kidneys as well. It is treatable with antibiotics but you have to get it in time.”

The health board said Legionella bacteria is commonly found in sources of water, such as rivers and lakes. The bacteria can end up in artificial water supply systems, including air conditioning systems, water services and cooling towers.

Legionnaires' disease is contracted by breathing in small droplets of contaminated water.

Symptoms include mild headaches, muscle pain, fever, a persistent cough and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea.

About half of those with Legionnaires' disease will also experience changes to their mental state, such as confusion. The condition is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person.

The source of the outbreak continues to be investigated by officials from the City of Edinburgh Council's Environmental Health Department and the Health and Safety Executive.

More About Legionnaires' outbreak

Related articles

People who read this story also read