Investigators fail to find source of Shropshire Legionnaire's outbreak

Health experts in Shropshire have closed their investigation into an outbreak of potentially fatal Legionnaire's Disease without finding the source of the infection.

Two people from the Whitchurch area - a man and woman both in their 60s - were struck down more than five weeks ago with the infection which is a form of pneumonia.

Although not related, they live one mile apart.

The investigation has been led by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) along with Shropshire Council's environmental health department and Shropshire County Primary Care Trust.

Legionnaire's is caused by a bacteria and people become ill when they inhale it after it is released into the air from a contaminated source.

Investigators have looked throughout the area for such a source that could release sufficient "aerosols" to cause the illness.

They have been unable to find any common link between the two patients and believe there is a "strong possibility" that one of the patients picked up the infection while on holiday outside Shropshire.

Dr Robert Carr, HPA consultant said: "It is not unusual for a specific environmental source not to be found during these kinds of investigations but that all necessary safety checks and precautions have been implemented."

As there have been no further recent outbreaks of Legionnaire's Disease in the Whitchurch area, and a link has not been established between the patients and their activities, the investigation teams have concluded that these were two isolated cases.

Two Whitchurch men, one of whom died, were among a group of five from Shropshire and Powys diagnosed with the infection in 2006. At that time no common source for the outbreak was found.

There are about 300 cases reported each year in England and Wales with just under half of these are associated with foreign travel.

The infection is very rarely seen in children and generally affects men over the age of 50.

Anyone wishing to find out further information about Legionnaire's Disease and how it is controlled can visit either the Shropshire Council or HPA websites at: http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/environmentalhealth or http://www.hpa.org.uk/

By Health Correspondent Dave Morris