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Inquiry into Legionnaires' cases Inquiry into Legionnaires' cases
(40 minutes later)
The Health Protection Agency is investigating whether three cases of Legionnaires' disease are linked.The Health Protection Agency is investigating whether three cases of Legionnaires' disease are linked.
Three men, two in their 40s and one in his 50s, are being treated at an intensive care unit in Shropshire. Three men, two from Shropshire and one from Powys, are being treated at an intensive care unit in Shropshire.
The patients are thought to have been admitted to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital at the end of August. The patients, aged in their 40s and 50s, were admitted to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in August.
The agency said there was no evidence they were linked but it was speaking to relatives of the patients to see if there was one source of the bacteria.The agency said there was no evidence they were linked but it was speaking to relatives of the patients to see if there was one source of the bacteria.
A spokeswoman for the Birmingham and Black Country Strategic Health Authority said: "Every year there are 350 cases of Legionnaires' in England and Wales and out of those half are isolated cases, often linked to foreign travel.A spokeswoman for the Birmingham and Black Country Strategic Health Authority said: "Every year there are 350 cases of Legionnaires' in England and Wales and out of those half are isolated cases, often linked to foreign travel.
"There is no evidence to suggest these three cases are linked and we know at least one of them has recently been abroad," she said."There is no evidence to suggest these three cases are linked and we know at least one of them has recently been abroad," she said.
Breathing difficultiesBreathing difficulties
Legionnaires' disease is most often contracted by inhaling mist from water sources such as whirlpool baths, showers, and cooling towers.Legionnaires' disease is most often contracted by inhaling mist from water sources such as whirlpool baths, showers, and cooling towers.
It cannot be passed from one human to another.It cannot be passed from one human to another.
The most common cause of the disease is contaminated air conditioning systems.The most common cause of the disease is contaminated air conditioning systems.
Patients show flu-like symptoms in the early stages which can develop into fever with breathing difficulties following. It is fatal in 5-15% of cases.Patients show flu-like symptoms in the early stages which can develop into fever with breathing difficulties following. It is fatal in 5-15% of cases.
The three patients are said to be poorly, but stable.The three patients are said to be poorly, but stable.