Legionnaires' outbreak spreads to 24 confirmed cases
The Scottish Health Secretary says there are 24 confirmed and 37 suspected cases of Legionnaires' disease. She expects this figure to rise.
Legionnaires': The serious infection that can kill
Legionnaires' is a disease that strikes fear in people and its history shows it can be deadly.
MSPs to be updated on Legionnaires' outbreak
The Scottish Health Secretary will today update MSPs on efforts to deal with a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Edinburgh.
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Birthing pool warning after Legionnaires case
Women have been warned against using a type of heated birthing pool at home after a baby born in one was infected with Legionnaires' disease.
Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England are temporarily advising against the use of pools which have built-in heaters and recirculation pumps and can be filled up two weeks before the birth.
The warning comes after a baby born in the specific type of birthing pool at home was diagnosed with the Legionnaires' lung disease.
It is the first reported case of Legionnaires' disease linked to a birthing pool in England and has left the child in intensive care in hospital, PHE said.
Third person dies after Legionnaires’ outbreak
The latest reports on the Edinburgh Legionnaires’ outbreak show that a person suspected of having the disease has died.
The individual, a man in his 60s from south west Edinburgh, had been unwell for a period of time, and is considered to be part of the original outbreak.
The Scottish Government have stressed that the outbreak has peaked.
– Health Secretary Nicola SturgeonMy sincere condolences go to the family and friends of the patient who has passed away and my thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.
Despite this sad and tragic news, is important to stress that strong evidence still suggests that all cases are associated with the suspected period of exposure and that the outbreak has peaked.
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Cases of Legionnaires' disease up by two
The number of cases of Legionnaires' disease recorded in Edinburgh has risen to 95 - an increase of two since Thursday's most recent update. There are 48 confirmed cases and 47 suspected cases.
Two people have died since the first case was identified at the end of May and the authorities are continuing their investigations into the possible source of the outbreak.
The disease is contracted by breathing in small droplets of contaminated water.
'No increase in Legionnaires' patients in intensive care'
The Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has said that despite two new cases of Legionnaires' disease, there are still only seven people being treated in intensive care. That number is down from 15 last Sunday. She said:
– Nicola Sturgeon, Health SecretaryI am pleased to see that the number being treated in intensive care has not increased. However, these people remain critically ill and NHS Lothian are continuing to provide expert, round-the-clock care.
Anyone concerned about the outbreak can get information from NHS Lothian's website (nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk) or the NHS24 Legionnaires' disease helpline on 08000 858 531.
Two news cases of Legionnaires' disease confirmed
Two new cases of Legionnaires' disease have been confirmed in an outbreak which has claimed two lives in the Edinburgh area of Scotland.
Both of the new cases are of people who have been ill for some time and who were originally among those suspected of having the disease, NHS Lothian said.
The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 44 and the number of suspected cases is still 47.
Five in legal action over outbreak
Five people are taking legal action over a Legionnaires' disease outbreak which has left two people dead.
The five, who are all understood to have contracted the disease, are seeking answers over what went wrong and have instructed law firm Irwin Mitchell.
Irwin Mitchell said they are receiving ongoing inquiries about the outbreak. Their clients include Terry Holleran, 55, who said he has instructed specialist illness lawyers at the firm to help him find out how the outbreak occurred and what can be done to prevent it from recurring.
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Scottish Health Secretary: Evidence that 'outbreak has reached its peak'
"I would like to take this opportunity to again express my sincere sympathy to the friends and family of the patient who passed away yesterday. My thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.
"This is an extremely sad development. However, it is reassuring that the number of cases involved in the outbreak remains static and this is further evidence that the outbreak has reached its peak."
National Museums Scotland: No issues with Legionella in our cooling tower
The improvement notice does not mean the National Museum of Scotland has been identified as the source of the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease.
The museum can appeal against the notice within the next 21 days.
– A spokeswoman for National Museums Scotland, which runs the museumTests have confirmed that there are no issues with Legionella in our cooling towers.
Following a routine inspection by the Health and Safety Executive and the City of Edinburgh Council Environmental Health, both organisations confirmed they are satisfied with our documentation and procedures.
Two other organisations, pharmaceuticals firm Macfarlan Smith and the North British Distillery, have already been served with improvement notices.
These do not mean any of the cooling towers are the source of the outbreak.
National Museum of Scotland served with improvement notice
The National Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street, Edinburgh, is the third place to be served with an improvement notice by investigators.
The notice requires the museum to ensure that key staff members are appropriately trained in the management of water systems, which includes overseeing the ongoing monitoring and maintenance regime undertaken by specialist contractors.
– A council spokesmanThe Improvement Notice relates solely to the training of staff and not to the operation of cooling towers.
Legionnaires' probe continues
An improvement notice has been served on a museum by health chiefs probing an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease which has left two people dead. Edinburgh City Council said the notice served on the National Museum of Scotland relates to staff training issues and not the operation of cooling towers.
On Thursday a second person died after catching Legionnaires' disease in the outbreak in Edinburgh.
The man, who had significant pre-existing underlying health conditions, died on Thursday evening in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
Health chiefs said it appeared the outbreak has peaked, with figures remaining static. So far there have been 41 confirmed cases and 48 suspected cases in the outbreak in the south-west of the capital. The first man to die was named as Robert Air, 56, from the Seafield area of the city.
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