A man who contracted Legionnaires' disease has died while being treated in hospital as the total number of cases being investigated rose to 33.

NHS Lothian confirmed on Tuesday evening that there were 17 confirmed cases and 15 suspected cases of the illness.

The man who succumbed to the illness was in his 50s and had underlying health conditions. He died while being treated at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

A spokesman for NHS Lothian said: "Thirteen other men and two women, aged between 33 and 74, are in a critical condition with the disease and are being treated in intensive care in hospitals in Lothian. One man has recovered and has been discharged.

"Although unconfirmed, 15 other cases — ten men and five women — are also being investigated."

All of the patients are being treated in hospitals in Lothian area though the majority of the confirmed cases are linked geographically to the Dalry, Gorgie and Saughton areas.

"Investigations into the other cases and possible links with the area are ongoing," said the spokesman.

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

"Industrial cooling towers have been identified as a potential source of the infection and the cooling systems at four facilities in the area have been subject to an additional chemical treatment."

Environmental Health Service, Scientific Service and the Health and Safety Executive are to carry out further inspections of the four facilities to ensure control measures continue to be effective but other possible sources are not being ruled out.

Dr Duncan McCormick, Consultant in Public Health Medicine and Chair of the Incident Management Team, said: "I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family of the patient that died.

"Investigations into the possible source of this outbreak are on-going. Meanwhile, medical staff have been actively identifying possible cases to allow us to ascertain the full extent of this outbreak.

"I would like to reassure the public that household water supplies are safe and that Legionnaire's disease cannot be contracted by drinking water.

"Older people, particularly men, heavy smokers and those with other health conditions are at greater risk of contracting the disease. I would urge anyone who develops symptoms of Legionnaires' disease to contact NHS 24 or their GP."

The first case was identified on Thursday 28 May.

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