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| Edinburgh Legionnaires' outbreak: Cases increase to 51 | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The number of confirmed and suspected cases in the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Edinburgh has increased to 51. | |
| The new total was revealed by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon in a statement to MSPs at Holyrood. | |
| One man has died in the outbreak. He has been named as Robert Air, 56, from the Seafield area of the capital. | |
| Ms Sturgeon said efforts were continuing to trace the source of the disease outbreak. | |
| The outbreak covers areas in the south west of the city and health officials believe it is connected to an outdoor source, possibly a cooling tower. | The outbreak covers areas in the south west of the city and health officials believe it is connected to an outdoor source, possibly a cooling tower. |
| Residents are being leafleted with information on the disease and what they should do if they are worried they could be at risk. | |
| GPs have been provided with information on spotting the signs of infection and a dedicated NHS helpline has been set up on 0800 0858 531. | GPs have been provided with information on spotting the signs of infection and a dedicated NHS helpline has been set up on 0800 0858 531. |
| An adviser on the prevention of the disease has warned of the sanctions a company - or individual - could face if the authorities trace the source of the outbreak. | |
| Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, Dennis Kelly, a senior consultant with Legionella Control International, said: "If they find something that has caused it to happen, something obvious, something that should have been done that hasn't been done, then they may take that further. | |
| "There have been a number of court cases in the past, notably in a large outbreak in Barrow back in 2002. | |
| "There were seven fatalities with that and in fact there were seven cases of manslaughter brought against an individual, so it can be very severe, the sanctions they can apply for." | |
| The health secretary's statement in parliament follows a meeting of the Scottish government resilience committee on Wednesday, to co-ordinate the official response to the outbreak. | |
| Early indications suggest the infection was the result of a contaminated cloud being emitted from a cooling tower in the south west of the city. | Early indications suggest the infection was the result of a contaminated cloud being emitted from a cooling tower in the south west of the city. |
| Speaking to the BBC's Newsnight Scotland programme, Ms Sturgeon said: "All of the expert advice I have, based on all the available evidence, points to one of these cooling towers being the source of the infection. | |
| "That is partly to do with the number of people that have been infected, and the fact that there is, at this stage, no identified link between all of these patients, other than their association with this part of Edinburgh." | "That is partly to do with the number of people that have been infected, and the fact that there is, at this stage, no identified link between all of these patients, other than their association with this part of Edinburgh." |
| Ms Sturgeon added that in line with planning to deal with the swine flu outbreak, health boards outside the Lothian area were standing by to offer assistance should that be needed. | Ms Sturgeon added that in line with planning to deal with the swine flu outbreak, health boards outside the Lothian area were standing by to offer assistance should that be needed. |
| Officials are also liaising with the Met Office to analyse the impact of temperature and wind speed on plumes from the cooling towers. | Officials are also liaising with the Met Office to analyse the impact of temperature and wind speed on plumes from the cooling towers. |
| The BBC understands tests have been carried out at four sites. | The BBC understands tests have been carried out at four sites. |
| They include the cooling towers at; | They include the cooling towers at; |
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| Dr Duncan McCormick, consultant in public health medicine at NHS Lothian, said: "Our advice is that there is a very low risk to the public and people should go about their daily business as usual. | Dr Duncan McCormick, consultant in public health medicine at NHS Lothian, said: "Our advice is that there is a very low risk to the public and people should go about their daily business as usual. |
| "We remain confident - based on the available evidence - that the general source of the infection has been identified and that the treatment to the cooling towers will prove successful." | "We remain confident - based on the available evidence - that the general source of the infection has been identified and that the treatment to the cooling towers will prove successful." |
| He added the city's drinking water was completely safe and that the disease was not passed from person-to-person. | He added the city's drinking water was completely safe and that the disease was not passed from person-to-person. |
| Have you been affected by the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Edinburgh? Send us your comments using the form below | Have you been affected by the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Edinburgh? Send us your comments using the form below |