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| Four Legionnaires' cases confirmed in Edinburgh outbreak | Four Legionnaires' cases confirmed in Edinburgh outbreak |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| At least four people have contracted Legionnaires' disease following an outbreak in Edinburgh. | At least four people have contracted Legionnaires' disease following an outbreak in Edinburgh. |
| NHS Lothian said four men, aged 39, 48, 60 and 63, were being treated in hospital after being confirmed as having the disease. | NHS Lothian said four men, aged 39, 48, 60 and 63, were being treated in hospital after being confirmed as having the disease. |
| Three are in intensive care, while another is being cared for in a high dependency unit. | Three are in intensive care, while another is being cared for in a high dependency unit. |
| Four other people, two women, both aged 49, and two men, aged 88 and 63, are also suspected of having the illness. | Four other people, two women, both aged 49, and two men, aged 88 and 63, are also suspected of having the illness. |
| All of the cases have come from the south west area of Edinburgh since 7 May. | All of the cases have come from the south west area of Edinburgh since 7 May. |
| Environmental health officials are trying to locate the source of the outbreak. | Environmental health officials are trying to locate the source of the outbreak. |
| NHS Lothian said the Legionella bacteria is commonly found in sources of water, such as rivers and lakes. | NHS Lothian said the Legionella bacteria is commonly found in sources of water, such as rivers and lakes. |
| It can end up in artificial water supply systems, including air conditioning systems, water services and cooling towers. | It can end up in artificial water supply systems, including air conditioning systems, water services and cooling towers. |
| The disease is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person. | The disease is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person. |
| It is contracted by breathing in small droplets of contaminated water. | It is contracted by breathing in small droplets of contaminated water. |
| Symptoms include mild headaches, muscle pain, fever, a persistent cough and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea. | Symptoms include mild headaches, muscle pain, fever, a persistent cough and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea. |
| About half of those with Legionnaires' disease will also experience changes to their mental state, such as confusion. | About half of those with Legionnaires' disease will also experience changes to their mental state, such as confusion. |
| NHS Lothian said steps were being taken to treat cooling towers in the south west Edinburgh area as a precaution until the source is located. | NHS Lothian said steps were being taken to treat cooling towers in the south west Edinburgh area as a precaution until the source is located. |
| Dona Milne, acting director of public health and health policy, said: "We have four confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease which all seem to come from the same point source in the south west of Edinburgh. | Dona Milne, acting director of public health and health policy, said: "We have four confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease which all seem to come from the same point source in the south west of Edinburgh. |
| "Anybody who develops symptoms of Legionnaires' disease should contact NHS 24 immediately or go to their GP. | "Anybody who develops symptoms of Legionnaires' disease should contact NHS 24 immediately or go to their GP. |
| "The safety of the public is our number one priority and we would urge people to look out for the symptoms of this disease." | "The safety of the public is our number one priority and we would urge people to look out for the symptoms of this disease." |
| NHS Lothian said all GP surgeries in the area were due to be open on Monday, however some will be closed on Tuesday for the Jubilee bank holiday. |