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| Edinburgh Legionnaires' outbreak: Cases increase to 51 | Edinburgh Legionnaires' outbreak: Cases increase to 51 |
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| The number of confirmed and suspected cases in the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Edinburgh has increased to 51. | 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. | 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. | One man has died in the outbreak. He has been named as Robert Air, 56, from the Seafield area of the capital. |
| Mr Air's partner, Rena, said: "I don't want to remember him, I just want him back." | Mr Air's partner, Rena, said: "I don't want to remember him, I just want him back." |
| Ms Sturgeon said efforts were continuing to trace the source of the disease outbreak. | 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. |
| However, the minister conceded that the cause might never be known. She told MSPs that it was "not always possibly to conclusively determine." | However, the minister conceded that the cause might never be known. She told MSPs that it was "not always possibly to conclusively determine." |
| Residents are being leafleted with information on the disease and what they should do if they are worried they could be at risk. | 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. |
| It is believed that more than 100 people have contacted the special line. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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 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." | "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. | 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. |
| She told MSPs at Holyrood: "In Scotland, we would normally expect to see around 30 to 40 legionella cases each year. Typically around half of these cases are contracted abroad, but we also see indigenous cases, and it is not unusual to see single sporadic cases of community-acquired legionella. | She told MSPs at Holyrood: "In Scotland, we would normally expect to see around 30 to 40 legionella cases each year. Typically around half of these cases are contracted abroad, but we also see indigenous cases, and it is not unusual to see single sporadic cases of community-acquired legionella. |
| "Across Europe, outbreaks are not uncommon, with dozens of outbreaks per annum and thousands of cases. | "Across Europe, outbreaks are not uncommon, with dozens of outbreaks per annum and thousands of cases. |
| "However, outbreaks of the size we are currently seeing here in Edinburgh are rare in Scotland - the last time we had an outbreak of this scale was, I understand, in the 1980s in Glasgow." | "However, outbreaks of the size we are currently seeing here in Edinburgh are rare in Scotland - the last time we had an outbreak of this scale was, I understand, in the 1980s in Glasgow." |
| She explained that Legionnaires' disease was an "uncommon but serious form of pneumonia, caused by bacteria that are distributed widely in both natural and artificial water supplies". | She explained that Legionnaires' disease was an "uncommon but serious form of pneumonia, caused by bacteria that are distributed widely in both natural and artificial water supplies". |
| Ms Sturgeon said: "In most cases, the disease is caused by the inhalation of water containing the bacteria and common sources can be showers, air conditioning, cooling towers, or humidifiers." | Ms Sturgeon said: "In most cases, the disease is caused by the inhalation of water containing the bacteria and common sources can be showers, air conditioning, cooling towers, or humidifiers." |
| The minister confirmed that officials were also liaising with the Met Office to analyse the impact of temperature and wind speed on plumes from the cooling towers. | The minister confirmed that officials were 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 |