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Legionnaires' outbreak: distillery shuts down cooling towers as precaution Legionnaires' outbreak: distillery shuts down cooling towers as precaution
(about 6 hours later)
One of the firms at the centre of an investigation into the source of a legionnaires' disease outbreak in Edinburgh has shut down its cooling towers and halted production as a "precautionary operation".One of the firms at the centre of an investigation into the source of a legionnaires' disease outbreak in Edinburgh has shut down its cooling towers and halted production as a "precautionary operation".
North British Distillery, in Gorgie, south-west Edinburgh, is one of four sites under investigation by the Health and Safety Executive.North British Distillery, in Gorgie, south-west Edinburgh, is one of four sites under investigation by the Health and Safety Executive.
NHS Lothian said on Friday there were now 28 confirmed cases and 46 suspected cases in the outbreak, which has killed one man. Robert Air, a builder, died on Tuesday, hours after arriving at hospital complaining of severe flu-like symptoms. It emerged the HSE had served an improvement notice on the company for alleged failures to properly control legionella in its three cooling towers. The agency said, however, that did not automatically mean the firm was to blame for the outbreak.
Health officials believe that cooling towers are the most likely source of the outbreak, which is caused by the legionella bacteria. Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish health secretary, has cautioned that it may prove impossible to trace a specific source. NHS Lothian said on Friday there were 28 confirmed cases and 46 suspected cases in the outbreak, which has killed one man. Robert Air, a builder, died on Tuesday, hours after arriving at hospital complaining of severe flu-like symptoms.
The HSE has carried out tests at four sites including the North British Distillery and used a chemical "shock treatment" at those plants and two others outside the main outbreak area, to kill off any bacteria. Health officials believe cooling towers are the most likely source of the outbreak, which is caused by the legionella bacterium. Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish health secretary, has cautioned that it may prove impossible to trace a specific source.
The HSE has carried out tests at four sites, including the North British Distillery, and used a chemical "shock treatment" at those plants and two others outside the main outbreak area to kill off any bacteria.
A spokesman for North British Distillery, which is jointly owned by Diageo and Edrington Group, said: "Our thoughts are clearly with the families of those affected by this situation. Ensuring the health and safety of our employees and the local community is our highest priority.A spokesman for North British Distillery, which is jointly owned by Diageo and Edrington Group, said: "Our thoughts are clearly with the families of those affected by this situation. Ensuring the health and safety of our employees and the local community is our highest priority.
"Having reviewed the current situation, we have voluntarily taken our cooling towers offline until the legionella results from samples taken earlier this week are reported. While this precautionary operation is under way we have temporarily ceased distillation.""Having reviewed the current situation, we have voluntarily taken our cooling towers offline until the legionella results from samples taken earlier this week are reported. While this precautionary operation is under way we have temporarily ceased distillation."
Sir Harry Burns, Scotland's chief medical officer, said he hoped the number of new cases would begin to tail off over the weekend. The most recent cases had been less severe, and the number of critical cases had not risen above the 12 currently in intensive care, he said. Sturgeon later disclosed there were 14 people in intensive care, a slight increase on the 12 listed as critical on Thursday. With 30 people now in general wards, there had been ten people discharged from hospital and 15 others being treated at home."As we expected, we have seen a rise in the number of cases associated with this outbreak today," Sturgeon said. "It is reassuring to see that 10 people have now been discharged from hospital."
"Typically it takes six to 10 days for the disease to incubate. So they [the cooling towers] were treated last weekend, you would hope that in the course of the next few days we would begin to see a drop-off in the number of cases, and if that is observed then we can be more confident that these cooling towers are the source," he said on BBC Radio Scotland. "If it doesn't happen then clearly there is a more complicated background to this and further investigations will be required." She added: "Investigations into the source of this outbreak are continuing. It is important to note that in issuing an improvement notice, the HSE does not believe there is an immediate risk to workers or members of the public. Nor can it be assumed that this tower is the source of the outbreak. Investigations into all of the other towers in the area are continuing."
Sir Harry Burns, Scotland's chief medical officer, said he hoped the number of new cases would begin to tail off over the weekend. "Typically it takes six to 10 days for the disease to incubate. So they [the cooling towers] were treated last weekend, you would hope that in the course of the next few days we would begin to see a drop-off in the number of cases, and if that is observed then we can be more confident that these cooling towers are the source," he said on BBC Radio Scotland. "If it doesn't happen then clearly there is a more complicated background to this and further investigations will be required."