Two more cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been reported.

The latest two bring the tally of victims in East Kent to five, all of which are being investigated by the Health Protection Agency.

The two new cases were reported last night, one with no link to any hospital and one who had been an inpatient at Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital.

One victim is a man in his 40s, the other a woman in her 70s.

The previous three cases, reported last week, concerned two elderly women at the Harvey and a Dover man who died last Friday at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

Kent HPU is now carrying out a detailed investigation of each case to try to identify the source of the infection.

Mr Mathi Chandrakumar, director of Kent HPU, said: “We are working closely with our partners in the NHS to try to identify the source of these infections.

“This will include investigating all places and each person visited in the two weeks before they fell ill.

“At present there is no evidence that the cases are linked.”

As a precaution to protect other patients the Harvey flushed through its water system and suspended the use of baths, showers and water births until shower and bath fittings had been thoroughly disinfected.

The victim who died of the disease was locally named as Kevin Carroll, 50.

Legionnaires’ disease is an uncommon form of pneumonia caused by a type of bacterium found in the environment.

It causes disease when it is spread through the are as a spray or vapour from a water source and droplets are inhaled.

It cannot be spread from one person to another.

The illness can affect people of all ages but it mostly affects those aged over the age of 50 and men more than women.