Legionnaires’ disease Birmingham woman seriously ill in hospital

Aug 11 2009 by Andy Richards, Birmingham Mail

A BIRMINGHAM woman remained seriously ill in hospital today with Legionnaires’ disease.

The woman, who has not been named, fell ill after enjoying a holiday at a Pontin’s holiday camp in Blackpool.

Elsewhere an elderly patient has died from the disease at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent, while another patient was being treated in Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

The disease is caught by individuals inhaling water droplets which carry the Legionella bacterium. Legionella naturally occurs in the environment.

Legionnaires’ disease is most likely to affect those who have chronic lung and heart disease or a low immune system.

It cannot be spread from person to person.

Dr Mathi Chandrakumar, Director of the Kent Health Protection Unit said: “I am satisfied with the control measures that have been implemented.

“The risk of infection to anyone else is low and we are monitoring the situation.”