Two more people struck down with Legionnaires' disease
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Two more cases
of Legionnaires' disease have been reported.
The latest two bring the tally of
victims in east Kent to five, all of which are being investigated
by the Health Protection Agency.
The two new cases were reported on
Tuesday night, one with no link to any hospital and one who had
been an inpatient at Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital.
One victim is a man in his 40s, the
other a woman in her 70s.
The previous three cases, reported last
week, concerned two elderly women at the Harvey and a Dover man,
who died last Friday at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital in
Canterbury.
Kent HPU is now carrying out a detailed
investigation of each case to try to identify the source of the
infection.
Mr Mathi Chandrakumar, director of Kent
HPU, said: “We are working closely with our partners in the NHS to
try to identify the source of these infections.
"This will include investigating all
places and each person visited in the two weeks before they fell
ill. At present there is no evidence that the cases are
linked."
As a precaution to protect other
patients the Harvey flushed through its water system and suspended
the use of baths, showers and water births until shower and bath
fittings had been thoroughly disinfected.
The victim who died of the disease was
locally named as Kevin Carroll, 50.
Legionnaires’ disease is an uncommon
form of pneumonia caused by a type of bacterium found in the
environment.
It causes disease when it is spread
through the area as a spray or vapour from a water source and
droplets are inhaled.
It cannot be spread from one person to
another.
The illness can affect people of all
ages but it mostly affects those aged over the age of 50 and men
more than women.
Wednesday, August 12 2009
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