Legionnaires Outbreak: Number Of Cases Continue To Rise

Legionnaires' Cases Continue To Rise In Edinburgh

The number of cases of Legionnaires' disease in an outbreak in Scotland has risen.

The overall number of cases in the Edinburgh outbreak now stands at 93 - up two since Wednesday.

There are now 47 confirmed cases, an increase of three, and 46 suspected cases, a fall of one.

The new cases are people who have been ill for some time, so health chiefs say infection control measures have been effective and that the outbreak is under control.

A micrograph picture of the Legionionella pneumophilia bacteria. The bacteria replicates quickly, part of what makes the disease so infectious

At noon today, of those cases being treated in hospital, two are in intensive care and 16 are on general wards. 47 patients have been discharged and two patients have died.

The Health and Safety executive and Edinburgh City Council are continuing their investigations into the possible source of the outbreak.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon said: "These numbers continue to be in line with expectations and it is encouraging to see a further drop in the number of cases in intensive care. However we must remember that these people remain critically ill and NHS Lothian continue to provide expert, round-the-clock care."

Dr Duncan McCormick, consultant in public health medicine and chairman of the incident management team, said: "One of the suspected cases has now been confirmed. The other two new cases tie in with the incubation period and is in line with our expectation as the outbreak tails off. It is reassuring that the number of people who have recovered and been discharged continues to increase."

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