No new cases as legionella outbreak ‘hits its peak’

There have been no new cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the outbreak which has claimed two lives, health chiefs said.

This total number of confirmed cases remains at 42, while the total number of suspected cases remains at 47.

Health chiefs said the latest figures suggest that the outbreak in Edinburgh has reached its peak. Of those cases being treated in hospital, seven are in intensive care, down from a high of 15 on Sunday 10 June, and 17 are on general wards.

A total of 18 cases are being treated in the community and 38 have been discharged from hospital. The first man to die was named as Robert Air, 56, from the Seafield area of the city.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “The number of cases involved in the outbreak remains static and this is further evidence that the outbreak has reached its peak.

“NHS Lothian are continuing to maintain high quality care for patients who remain unwell.”

Seven cases are being treated outside of the NHS Lothian area.

Dr Duncan McCormick, consultant in public health at NHS Lothian, said: “I am pleased to see that once again the total numbers of patients with Legionnaires’ disease remain unchanged.

“It is also very encouraging to see that two more patients have recovered and been discharged home in the last 24 hours.”

Five people are taking legal action over the outbreak.

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

Improvement notices have been served on pharmaceuticals firm Macfarlan Smith and the North British Distillery.

These do not mean any of the cooling towers are the source of the outbreak.

An improvement notice was served on the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh on Friday.

The notice served on the museum relates solely to staff training issues and not the operation of cooling towers and does not mean the museum has been identified as the source of the outbreak.