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Legionnaires Disease man home - Peterborough

8/7/2008

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/Legionnaires-Disease-man-home.4264912.jp
Published Date: 08 July 2008 By Stephen BriggsA CITY worker who contracted a potentially lethal disease has returned home after treatment in hospital.The Perkins Engineering employee was hit with Legionnaires’ Disease last week and had been recovering in hospital.

But doctors gave the all clear on Saturday and the patient was able to continue his rehabilitation at home.

However, despite the worker recovering well from the disease, health inspectors said they were still unsure where the disease may have originated.

Spokeswoman Annette Johnson, for the company based just off Frank Perkins Parkway Fengate, Peterborough, said that while nothing had been confirmed, test results showed that it was unlikely the isolated case originated in the firm’s factory.

She said: “We are not in a position to speculate on the source, but there is still no evidence that it originated at Perkins.

“Further tests undertaken at Perkins have come back with negative results while the water treatment specialist, who last carried out a test at the Peterborough site on June 23, gave the all clear.

“There have been no further reports of anyone suffering from any of the symptoms.”

The Health Protection Agency, which deals with outbreaks of serious diseases, has been investigating the case.

A spokesman said: “Doctors are continuing to monitor the patient’s progress, and he has responded well to treatment.

“Our investigations are still on-going, but it is unlikely that another case will show up. If there was an outbreak we would have expected another case by now.

“In most instances there is only one isolated case, and we never find the source.”

The disease, a potentially lethal form of pneumonia, is caused by Legionella pneumophila bacterium living in water, and leads to flu-like symptoms.

It cannot be passed from person to person, and about one person in 10 who contracts the disease die as a result.