Patient diagnosed with legionella

An investigation is under way after a patient at a hospital in Cheltenham was diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease.

It is not known whether the patient contracted the disease while at Cheltenham General Hospital or if it was brought in from outside.

A hospital trust spokesman said as a "sensible precaution" the water supply was being chlorinated and heat-treated.

The ward has been closed to new admissions and bottled water brought in for patients to drink and wash with.

'Expert advice'

Steve Peak, director of service delivery at Gloucestershire hospitals foundation trust, said: "Patient safety is a priority for the Trust, so we're looking into this urgently, helped by expert advice.

"We don't yet know where the patient contracted the infection from, but as a sensible precaution, we are treating the water supply and closing the ward in question to new admissions.

"We are looking in to it urgently."

The patient remains in hospital. No further details about the victim or the seriousness of the condition are being released by the Trust, under the terms of patient confidentiality.

The South West Health Protection Agency said it was working with the hospital and local authority to find the source of the bug.

Spokeswoman Dr Isabel Oliver said samples had been taken from the hospital water supply to be tested and precautionary action taken until the source was found.

"People with Legionnaires' disease may develop pneumonia so it's important to investigate these cases thoroughly.

"However, we would like to reassure the public that the disease cannot be spread from person to person."

Legionnaires' disease is most often spread through contaminated air-conditioning systems, but can be contracted by inhaling mist from baths and showers.