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| Legionnaires' disease cases expected to rise | Legionnaires' disease cases expected to rise |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Health officials in Edinburgh have said it could take until the weekend before the extent of the deadly outbreak of Legionnaires' disease is known. | Health officials in Edinburgh have said it could take until the weekend before the extent of the deadly outbreak of Legionnaires' disease is known. |
| Dr Duncan McCormick, chair of NHS Lothian's incident management team, said 16 cooling towers in the city had been treated to kill the bacteria. | Dr Duncan McCormick, chair of NHS Lothian's incident management team, said 16 cooling towers in the city had been treated to kill the bacteria. |
| However, he said because of its incubation period, more cases of Legionnaires' disease were expected. | However, he said because of its incubation period, more cases of Legionnaires' disease were expected. |
| One man has died so far in the outbreak. | One man has died so far in the outbreak. |
| NHS Lothian said it was also dealing with 17 confirmed cases and another 15 suspected cases of the disease. | NHS Lothian said it was also dealing with 17 confirmed cases and another 15 suspected cases of the disease. |
| The Scottish government said it was doing everything possible to try to identify the source. | The Scottish government said it was doing everything possible to try to identify the source. |
| A meeting of its resilience committee has been scheduled for Wednesday to co-ordinate the official response to the outbreak. | A meeting of its resilience committee has been scheduled for Wednesday to co-ordinate the official response to the outbreak. |
| Dr McCormick told BBC Scotland he expected instances of the disease to peak in the coming days. | Dr McCormick told BBC Scotland he expected instances of the disease to peak in the coming days. |
| He said: "The incubation period of Legionnaires' disease is between two and 14 days but the average is five or six days, so we're expecting to have more cases over the next few days. | He said: "The incubation period of Legionnaires' disease is between two and 14 days but the average is five or six days, so we're expecting to have more cases over the next few days. |
| "But if our evidence and reaction have been correct, we hope to have removed the source through our shock treatment of these cooling towers. | "But if our evidence and reaction have been correct, we hope to have removed the source through our shock treatment of these cooling towers. |
| "We'd hope that by the weekend - five or six days after the treatment, we'll start to see a decline in cases." | "We'd hope that by the weekend - five or six days after the treatment, we'll start to see a decline in cases." |
| Cooling towers | Cooling towers |
| The source of the infection is still being investigated with the potential area for infection estimated at about 44 square miles. | The source of the infection is still being investigated with the potential area for infection estimated at about 44 square miles. |
| Dr McCormick said cooling towers in the south west of Edinburgh had been treated with a range of chemicals, including chlorine and bromine to kill the bacteria. | Dr McCormick said cooling towers in the south west of Edinburgh had been treated with a range of chemicals, including chlorine and bromine to kill the bacteria. |
| The 16 towers were identified as a potential source of the outbreak following the first reported cases on Sunday. | The 16 towers were identified as a potential source of the outbreak following the first reported cases on Sunday. |
| They were chemically treated on Sunday night and Monday morning. | They were chemically treated on Sunday night and Monday morning. |
| Dr McCormick said that people living in the Gorgie, Dalry and Saughton areas were generally at low risk. | Dr McCormick said that people living in the Gorgie, Dalry and Saughton areas were generally at low risk. |
| He added: "I want to give that reassuring message. | He added: "I want to give that reassuring message. |
| "However, people who fall into certain risk groups, these are males who are adults, who have an alcohol, drinking habit and have an underlying illness such as diabetes, or heart disease or lung disease - these people are at greater risk. | "However, people who fall into certain risk groups, these are males who are adults, who have an alcohol, drinking habit and have an underlying illness such as diabetes, or heart disease or lung disease - these people are at greater risk. |
| "These people should be very much aware that if they start feeling symptoms of flu-like illness, together with diarrhoea, cough and confusion, they should be consulting their GP or NHS 24 as soon as possible." | "These people should be very much aware that if they start feeling symptoms of flu-like illness, together with diarrhoea, cough and confusion, they should be consulting their GP or NHS 24 as soon as possible." |
| Dr McCormick said there was no threat to the city's public water supply. | Dr McCormick said there was no threat to the city's public water supply. |
| He added: "The public water supply in Edinburgh is extremely closely monitored and in addition it's not possible to contract Legionnaires' Disease through drinking water. | He added: "The public water supply in Edinburgh is extremely closely monitored and in addition it's not possible to contract Legionnaires' Disease through drinking water. |
| "It's contracted through the inhalation of water vapour in the form of an aerosol and that doesn't and that doesn't happen through drinking water supplies." | "It's contracted through the inhalation of water vapour in the form of an aerosol and that doesn't and that doesn't happen through drinking water supplies." |
| Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that it was likely more cases would emerge "through the course of today and into tomorrow". | Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that it was likely more cases would emerge "through the course of today and into tomorrow". |
| She added: "Over the next few days we will be ensuring that the public has all the right information. The message to the public is firstly that the risk to the general population is low. | She added: "Over the next few days we will be ensuring that the public has all the right information. The message to the public is firstly that the risk to the general population is low. |
| "Clearly, as with many conditions, there is a higher risk with people who have underlying health conditions. | "Clearly, as with many conditions, there is a higher risk with people who have underlying health conditions. |
| "But anybody who is worried about symptoms who think they may have cause for concern is advised to contact NHS 24 or their GP as quickly as possible." | "But anybody who is worried about symptoms who think they may have cause for concern is advised to contact NHS 24 or their GP as quickly as possible." |
| Have you been affected by the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Edinburgh? If you want to tell your story, email BBC Scotland's news website at newsonlinescotland@bbc.co.uk. Leave a daytime telephone number and and we'll get back in touch. |