A man has died and two women are seriously ill in east Kent after contracting Legionnaires' disease.

The East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust has said that the infected man was admitted to Kent and Canterbury Hospital with the condition last week and later died.

The women are being treated at Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital, which is also suspected to be the source of at least one of the infections.

Legionnaires' is caught through inhaling water droplets containing the bacteria and health chiefs have now suspended all showers, baths and water births at the Harvey.

The hospital’s entire water system has been flushed through as a further precaution and engineering staff there also spent the weekend disinfecting shower and bath fittings.

The action was taken after a patient who has been in the hospital for about a month developed the symptoms, which normally occur up to 14 days after becoming infected. The other woman had not been an in-patient recently but had visited the hospital for an out-patient appointment during the previous two weeks.

The Kent Health Protection Unit is also investigating two other cases of the disease.

The second case, a patient with no known connection to the Harvey, was admitted to the K&C already ill with the infection and died.

Both patients at the Harvey, who have other underlying health conditions, are seriously ill but stable.
Legionnaires’ disease, formally known as Legionella pneumonia, is rare but is most likely to affect those who have chronic lung and heart disease or are being treated with drugs that lower the immune system. It cannot be spread from person to person.

The Health Protection Agency has been providing advice on control measures and says that the risk of anyone contracting an infection at the Harvey is minimal.

Dr Mathi Chandrakumar, director of Kent HPU, said: “I am satisfied with the control measures that have been implemented. The risk of infection to anyone else is low and we are monitoring the situation.”

Health chiefs want to hear from anyone who attended or visited the William Harvey Hospital between July 27 and August 9 and has been ill since.

If they have or develop a flu-like illness or chest infection within 14 days of hospital contact should get in touch with their GP or telephone a hospital helpline on 012333 616161.
That line is open from 8am to 8pm.