Second legionella case diagnosed

A second case of Legionnaires' disease has been recorded in Gloucestershire, health bosses have confirmed.

A man has been admitted to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, but is understood to have contracted it outside the hospital.

A spokesman for the hospital said there was no link with a previous case involving a patient being treated at Cheltenham General Hospital.

Investigations are still under way to find out the cause of the first case.

We are doing all we can to minimise disruption to staff and patients Steve Peak, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust is investigating the water systems at Cheltenham General Hospital (CGH) after the patient in the first case contracted the disease and was readmitted on 15 July, following an earlier stay for an unconnected condition.

The water systems have been chlorinated and thermally treated and patients in the affected area of the hospital were given bottled water to drink.

Steve Peak, of the trust, said: "We are still waiting for the full results of all the tests which will help us to find the source of the infection.

"We have continued to take all necessary precautions.

"We are doing all we can to minimise disruption to staff and patients and would like to thank everyone for their patience and cooperation."

The trust is working together with the Health Protection Agency, environmental health officers and the Health and Safety Executive to try to establish the source of the disease.

The affected ward, at the CGH, was reopened to new admissions on Saturday 19 July and has been treating new patients since then.

Legionnaires' disease is most often contracted by inhaling mist 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, but cannot be passed from one person to another.