Health experts to quiz Shropshire Legionnaire's Disease victims

Health investigators are to interview the two Shropshire people struck down with potentially fatal in a bid to find the source of infection.

The man and woman, from the Whitchurch area, are not related but live just a mile away from each other.

Investigators want to retrace their movements over recent weeks to see if there is a common link to the outbreak.

The investigation is being led by the Health Protection Agency but also includes Shropshire Council and Shropshire County Primary Care Trust.

Dr Rob Carr, from the agency, said today: "As part of routine investigations, the HPA will try to establish if there are any environmental risk factors.

"We will do this in conjunction with partner agencies and by talking to the cases directly to see what their movements have been."

So far there has been no breakthrough. Often in cases of Legionnaire's Disease a source is never found. Four years ago five men from Shropshire and Powys were diagnosed with Legionnaire's Disease but health experts failed to establish a common cause.

One of the men, from Whitchurch, died.

An HPA spokesman said the current investigation would probably last at least two or three weeks.

Both patients are recovering but it is understood the man is still being treated in hospital. The first of them fell ill more than three weeks ago, the second just over a week ago. Both are in their 60s.

The HPA said people cannot catch the infection from washing or drinking tap water. People become ill when they inhale the bacteria released into the air from a contaminated source.