We have published the press statement released by Health Protection Agency below

http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317135319413?p=1317132140479 

Stoke-on-Trent Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak – probable source identified

30 July 2012

The probable source is a hot tub based at JTF Warehouse, City Road, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent. We would like to emphasise that investigations are still ongoing. Environmental Health specialists from the Health and Safety Executive and Stoke-on-Trent City Council have taken and continue to take samples from sites across Stoke.

A spokesperson from the Health and Safety Executive said: "HSE continues to inspect premises where we are the enforcing authority and will do so until we have eliminated those sites from our investigations and are sufficiently assured there are no other possible sources."

The samples from the hot tub at JTF Warehouse were confirmed by the Health Protection Agency’s specialist laboratory in Colindale last night as being an unusual strain legionella bacteria. The strain matched those taken from patients. JTF warehouse are fully cooperating with the investigation,

Dr Sue Ibbotson, regional director, Health Protection Agency West Midlands said: “We have identified the probable source of the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Stoke. We have the evidence from DNA fingerprinting of samples from the hot tub and the patients being caused by the same previously unseen strain of legionella. The HPA also took detailed histories from the confirmed cases and we know that 17 of the 18 confirmed cases visited this warehouse in the two weeks before they fell ill. Added to that we know that spa pools are known to be effective mechanisms for spreading legionella infection.

“We may still expect to see new cases of Legionnaires’ disease related to this outbreak. JTF Warehouse decommissioned the hot tub on 24 July. It can take up to two weeks following exposure for people to develop symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease and a further few days before they go to see their GP. We continue to work with our partners to investigate this outbreak and continue to take samples across the city in case there are other sites with the same strain of legionnella.”

Dr Zafar Iqbal, Director of Public Health, NHS in Stoke, said: “It’s good news that we have a probable source, especially as we know that is has been dealt with through precautionary measures last week.

“If people are displaying symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, such as: aching muscles, fever, tiredness, headaches and a dry cough, they should see their doctor or contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

“A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak is a significant public health issue, and requires experts working in a systematic way and at great speed to minimise the impact on the wider public, and hopefully the measures taken will have protected local people.”

Two further cases of Legionnaires’ disease were confirmed today. A spokesman for University Hospital of North Staffordshire said: “The Trust is currently treating seven patients confirmed with Legionnaires' disease. All of the patients are in a stable or improving condition.”

A spokesperson 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 stable and improving condition”

1. This is a joint statement from the statutory agencies who are working together to investigate the source of the infection – the Health Protection Agency, NHS Stoke on Trent, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the Health and Safety Executive.
2. The HPA is not able to comment on patient details or conditions.
3. Legionnaires’ disease is a pneumonia, caused by the bacteria Legionella pneumophila. The majority of cases are reported as single (isolated) cases but outbreaks can occur. There are round 350 cases reported each year in England, just under half of these are associated with foreign travel. All ages can be affected but it mainly affects people over 50 years of age and generally men more than women.
4. The early symptoms of legionellosis include a “flu-like” illness with muscle aches, tiredness headaches, dry cough and fever. Sometimes diarrhoea occurs and confusion may develop. About 10-15% of people who get Legionnaires’ disease will die; this may be higher in some groups of patients.
5. The incubation period ranges from 2-10 days, sometimes up to 14 days. In rare cases some people may develop symptoms as late as three weeks after exposure. Antibiotics against the infection can be effective in treating the disease. However, patients do still die despite treatment with antibiotics.
6. Legionella bacteria widely distributed in the natural environment as well as man made hot and cold water systems, spa pools and cooling towers. .
7. The disease is spread through the air from a water source. Person to person spread does not occur. Breathing in aerosols from a contaminated water system is the most likely route of transmission.
8. In 2011 there were 239 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in England and Wales, of these 23 were in the West Midlands.
9. The cases of Legionnaires’ disease are not hospital acquired.

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