Legionnaires' probe at Pontin's

The woman had stayed at the Blackpool Pontin's camp in July

A holiday camp in Blackpool is being investigated by health officials after a former guest was diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease.

The woman, who stayed at the Pontin's camp in July, is seriously ill in a hospital in Birmingham.

Pontin's, which has six holiday camps across England and Wales, said it was co-operating with the investigation into the "isolated incident".

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is investigating the source of the bug.

A spokeswoman for Pontin's said staff had taken action as soon as they were notified of the woman's illness.

In isolating the block of apartments, we have now completed a full chlorination of the system and fully tested it Pontin's spokeswoman

"We were very sorry to learn that a guest who was on holiday with us in July at Blackpool has been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease and our thoughts are with the family and friends," said the spokeswoman.

"Unlike hotels and offices, there are separate boiler and water systems on the Blackpool Park for different apartment blocks.

"We have therefore been able to identify the apartment and isolate the entire block the guest occupied during their stay.

"In isolating the block of apartments, we have now completed a full chlorination of the system and fully tested it."

Investigations are still ongoing to establish whether the park, on Clifton Drive North in St Annes, could have contributed to the illness.

As an additional precaution all other water systems at the park have been chlorinated and tested, the spokeswoman added.

'Life-threatening'

The HPA said park managers had put in place additional procedures to avoid any further possible risk of Legionella to the visitors.

Dr Steven Gee, of the HPA, said: "Legionnaires' disease is a rare but potentially life threatening illness.

"It is caused by a bacteria commonly associated with water systems and cannot be passed from person to person.

"Investigations are ongoing and action taken by the company to strengthen its procedures have given reassurance that there is little ongoing risk."

Symptoms of the disease are similar to a flu-like illness with muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever, leading on to pneumonia.

It can be treated with antibiotics.

The disease is most often contracted by inhaling mist from water sources such as whirlpool baths, showers and cooling towers which are contaminated with Legionella pnuemophila bacteria.