Published Date: 2012-07-28 21:55:49
Subject: PRO/EDR> Legionellosis - UK (11): (England) more cases, fatal, RFI
Archive Number: 20120728.1218773
LEGIONELLOSIS - UK (11): (ENGLAND) MORE CASES, FATAL, REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
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[1]
Date: Fri 27 Jul 2012
Source: Express.co.uk [edited]
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/335658/Legionnaires-outbreak-feared-as-number-of-cases-continues-to-rise
Health officials are frantically searching for the source of a fresh wave of Legionnaires' disease today, as 15 people are hospitalised - with two in a critical condition. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said all of those affected in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, are aged between their late 40s and mid-70s. The number of confirmed cases has been steadily rising since news of the outbreak on Tuesday. Two of the patients are in a critical condition and are being treated in separate hospitals.
A spokesman for University Hospital of North Staffordshire said: "The Trust is currently treating 14 patients confirmed with Legionnaires' Disease; 13 patients are in a stable or improving condition, one person is in a critical condition."
A spokesman for Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, said: "We are treating a patient transferred from the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, confirmed with Legionnaires' Disease, who is in a critical but stable condition."
Public and environmental health experts from the HPA, the Health and Safety Executive, the NHS [National Health Service] in Stoke and Stoke-on-Trent City Council continue to work together to identify and investigate possible sources.
Professor Harsh Duggal, director of the Health Protection Agency's Health Protection Unit in Stafford, said: "Our investigation into possible sources continues. We have sampled and disinfected potential sources of exposure but people can develop symptoms up to two weeks after being exposed to _Legionella_ so we are not surprised by these new cases. We continue to map the outbreak and work with our partners to pinpoint possible sources, using the information we have gathered."
The HPA said the outbreak is not hospital-related and the hospital is a safe environment for visitors. Anyone feeling unwell with any of the possible signs is advised to go and see their doctor, ring NHS Direct on 0845 4647, or click here.
The HPA stressed that there is no need for anyone who is well or only mildly unwell to see their doctor or to have any tests.
[Byline: Charlotte Meredith]
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[2]
Date: Sat 28 Jul 2012
Source: BBC News Stoke & Staffordshire [edited]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-19030213
One person has died after an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Staffordshire, officials have said. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) also confirmed another case of the disease in Stoke-on-Trent, bringing the total number to 16.
A spokesman for the University Hospital of North Staffordshire (UHNS), where most of the patients are being treated, said most were stable or improving. A patient in a Leicester hospital is in a critical but stable condition. The HPA said it would not be giving out any further details of the patient, who died earlier, and also said it would await a cause of death from the coroner. A spokeswoman said all those who had been affected were aged between their late 40s and mid-70s. A hospital spokeswoman said the trust is currently treating 11 patients, all of whom are in a stable or improving condition. Three patients have been discharged. The patient in the Leicester hospital had been transferred from the UHNS earlier.
The HPA has previously said it was continuing to work with the Health and Safety Executive, the NHS in Stoke-on-Trent and the city council to try and find the source of the outbreak. It said the disease was not hospital-related and it was safe for patients to attend the UHNS.
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[For a discussion of Legionnaires' disease, see ProMED-mail post Legionellosis - UK (02): (Scotland) 20120605.1156972.
There are more cases and one death, but we still have not been given any information on the epidemiology of this outbreak of Legionnaires' disease or its possible source.
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England, with a population of 1 047 380 (2001) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staffordshire). Stoke-on-Trent, the largest city in Staffordshire, was known for its pottery industry but is now a center for service industries and distribution centers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoke-on-Trent). For a map of England showing Staffordshire County, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Staffordshire_UK_locator_map_2010.svg.
Maps of England can be seen at http://www.localjobs.co.uk/images/uk_ireland_map.jpg and http://healthmap.org/r/2IVn. - Mod.ML]
See Also
Legionellosis - UK (10): (England) RFI 20120725.1213968Legionellosis - UK (09): (Scotland) more cases, fatal 20120713.1200937
Legionellosis - UK (08): (Scotland) more cases, fatal 20120704.1189315
Legionellosis - UK (07): (Scotland) 20120612.1166013
Legionellosis - UK (06): (Scotland) 20120612.1164841
Legionellosis - UK (05): (Scotland) more cases, fatal 20120609.1162615
Legionellosis - UK (04): (Scotland) more cases, fatal 20120607.1159816
Legionellosis - UK (03): (Scotland) fatal 20120606.1157653
Legionellosis - UK (02): (Scotland) 20120605.1156972
Legionellosis - UK: (Scotland) L. longbeachae, compost, fatal 20120529.1148827
2011
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Legionellosis - UK ex Greece (02): travelers, RFI 20111015.3093
Legionellosis - UK ex Greece, travelers, alert 20111008.3021
Legionellosis, fatal - UK: (Wales) 2010 closure 20110804.2348
Legionellosis, fatal - UK (02): (Scotland) 20110611.1775
Legionellosis, fatal - UK: (Scotland) 20110514.1472
Legionellosis, hotel - UK (03): (Scotland) 20110408.1100
Legionellosis, hotel - UK (02): (Scotland) background 20110328.0974
Legionellosis, hotel - UK: (Scotland) 20110327.0965
2010
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Legionellosis, fatal - UK (03): (Wales) 20101014.3725
Legionellosis, fatal - UK (02): (Wales) 20100916.3352
Legionellosis, fatal - UK: (Wales) 20100914.3321
2006
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Legionellosis, spa pool - UK (England) 20060929.2787
2005
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Legionellosis - UK (England) 20050906.2639
2004
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Legionellosis, fatal 2003 - UK ex India: background 20040630.1736
Legionellosis, fatal 2003 - UK ex India 20040628.1724
2003
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Legionellosis - UK (West Midlands) (03) 20031126.2925
Legionellosis - UK (West Midlands) (02) 20031117.2856
Legionellosis - UK (West Midlands) 20031109.2778
Legionellosis, hotel - UK (England) (02) 20030316.0663
Legionellosis, hotel - UK (England) 20030311.0599
2002
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Legionellosis - UK (England) (03) 20021105.5718
Legionellosis - UK (England) (02) 20020809.5004
Legionellosis - UK (Cumbria) 20020805.4951
2001
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Legionellosis - UK (London): alert 20010630.1249
2000
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Legionellosis - UK (Wales) (03) 20000503.0674
Legionellosis - UK (Wales) 20000430.0655
Legionellosis - UK (Wales) (02) 20000430.0659
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