Man diagnosed with Legionnaires'

The bacterium is often contracted through droplets

A 57-year-old man has been undergoing hospital treatment after he was diagnosed with Legionnaires' Disease.

The man was taken to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, where his condition has been described as satisfactory.

NHS Fife said an investigation was under way in an attempt to establish the source of the infection.

The health board said it was probably dealing with an isolated case of the illness.

Legionnaire's Disease, is a rare form of pneumonia and is usually spread by inhalation of water droplets containing the bacterium Legionella pneumophila. It does not spread from person to person.

The disease can be found naturally in environmental water sources such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs.

There are no other reported cases which are being linked at all and more often than not we never find a source for the outbreak Dr Jackie Hyland NHS Fife

It is also found in purpose-built water systems such as cooling towers and whirlpool spas.

Dr Jackie Hyland, a consultant in public health medicine with NHS Fife, said environmental health staff were tracing the man's movements to ensure no further risk to the public.

Dr Hyland said: "There are no other reported cases which are being linked at all and more often than not we never find a source for the outbreak.

"But we do carry out checks at any office blocks, hotels and things like that which the patient has visited recently.

"The Legionella bacterium is out in the atmosphere and some people become ill with it while others don't."

Legionnaires' Disease is usually treated with antibiotics