There are now 21 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease following a deadly outbreak, the Scottish health secretary has said.
Another 19 people are suspected of having the illness in the Lothian health board area but no more fatalities have occurred since yesterday when one man died, Nicola Sturgeon said.
Twelve of the 21 patients are in intensive care, two have been discharged and the others are either being treated in hospital or in the community.
The number of confirmed cases rose by four from the 17 announced at a previous update this morning. There are also four more suspected cases.
NHS Lothian said the patient who died was in his 50s and had other health conditions. He was being treated at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
The majority of confirmed cases are linked geographically to the Dalry, Gorgie and Saughton areas of south-west Edinburgh This morning 15 people were being treated in intensive care but this has come down to 12.
The number of cases is expected to continue rising until the weekend because it can take as long as two weeks for symptoms to show.
Legionella bacteria is commonly found in sources of water, such as rivers and lakes, NHS Lothian said. The bacteria can end up in artificial water supply systems such as air conditioning, water services and cooling towers.
Legionnaires’ disease is contracted by breathing in small droplets of contaminated water. Symptoms are mild headaches, muscle pain, fever, persistent cough and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea. They can begin at any time between two and 14 days after being infected.
The first case in the current outbreak was identified on Thursday May 31st.
About half of those who catch the disease will also experience changes to their mental state, such as confusion.
Legionnaires’ disease is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person.