Legionnaires' links 'not likely'

There appears to be no general health threat, officials say

An investigation into five cases of Legionnaires' disease is winding down with health officials saying it is unlikely they were related.

One patient died from the disease while four more people, all from north Shropshire, are recovering. Only one remains in hospital.

A Health Protection Agency spokesman said it was looking increasingly likely there was a cluster of isolated cases.

The outbreaks were reported during September.

Dr Rob Carr, consultant in communicable disease control for the agency, said council officers and laboratory officers conducted an exhaustive investigation.

But they did not find any proof of a common source of the infection.

Some Legionella bacteria was isolated in water from a single tap at the home of one patient but there is no evidence at this stage that it was the source of that patient's infection.

The test results indicate the problem was due to contamination of the tap rather than with the water supply, he said.