Patient dies of Legionnaires' bug

Investigations into the cause of the infection are under way

One patient has died and two others, including an elderly patient, are seriously ill with Legionnaires' disease, it has been revealed.

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust said a person was admitted to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital with the Legionella infection and later died.

Two two people infected with the disease are being treated at the William Harvey Hospital, Ashford.

It is understood their cases have no connection with the patient who died.

The elderly patient developed the condition while at the William Harvey.

'Infection risk low'

The other person was admitted with Legionella infection but had been an out-patient during the infection's two-week incubation period.

Both patients, who have underlying health conditions, are seriously ill but stable.

The trust said showers, baths and water births had been suspended at the William Harvey Hospital and engineers had flushed the water system through as a further precaution.

The bacterium Legionella pneumophilia causes the disease, which is normally transmitted through inhaling water vapour containing the bacteria.

Symptoms of the illness include muscle aches, tiredness and a fever. It is not passed from person to person.

Dr Chandrakumar, director of the Kent Health Protection Unit, said: "I am satisfied with the control measures that have been implemented.

"The risk of infection to anyone else is low and we are monitoring the situation."