Health experts seek Shropshire Legionnaire's Disease link

Health experts were today trying to find a common link for the potentially fatal Legionnaire's Disease which has struck two people who live just one mile apart in north Shropshire.

The man and woman, who are both in their 60s and live in the Whitchurch area, are not related. Both are recovering from the infection.

The man remains in hospital.

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A spokesman for the Health Protection Agency said today: "It is the case that they live a mile apart.

"That has implications for our investigation. For example we are looking at any commonality between them, places they both may have visited. This is one of a number of lines of inquiry."

There have been no further cases of the infection, a form of pneumonia, since the second case was reported.

One of the two patients first fell ill about three weeks ago, the other just over a week ago.

The investigation is being led by the HPA along with Shropshire Council and the Shropshire County Primary Care Trust. They have tried to reassure the public and stressed the infection cannot be passed from person to person.

But there is concern in Whitchurch that not enough information is being made public by the agencies.

Town mayor Councillor Alan Chesters said: "I can understand people are concerned by the news. The problem is that the information that is being released is a bit vague so people don't know what to think.

"At the moment we don't know where it is safe to go and where it isn't."

Town councillor Doris Ankers added: "This is very worrying for Whitchurch."

The legionella bacteria which causes the infection lives in water but Dr Rob Carr, of the HPA, has stressed people cannot catch the infection from washing or drinking tap water.

People become ill when they inhale the bacteria when it released into the air from a contaminated source.

Early symptoms include a flu-like illness with muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever. About 300 cases are reported each year in England and Wales.

Two Whitchurch men, one of whom died, were among a group of five from Shropshire and Powys diagnosed with the infection in August and September 2006.

By Health Correspondent Dave Morris