A HEALTH alert has been issued to hospitals and GPs' surgeries warning of the threat of Legionnaire’s disease after a second reported case of the potentially deadly bacteria at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

The South East London Health Protection Unit has alerted health professionals across Bexley to the symptoms of the rare disease following the treatment of seven patients in South London in as many weeks.

Two of the victims have been treated at the Sidcup hospital. The first has been discharged but the second is in intensive care in a serious but stable condition. Both victims are male.

The potentially deadly form of pneumonia is caught by inhaling small droplets of water from sources such as contaminated cooling towers, Jacuzzis, air-conditioning and industrial cooling systems, and from water used for domestic purposes in buildings such as hotels. Legionnaire’s disease does not spread from person to person.

Dr Diana McInnes, consultant in communicable disease control at the South East London Health Protection Unit, said: "We are working closely with local environmental health officers in the Lewisham, Bexleyheath and Wandsworth areas, Health Protection Agency Legionnella specialists, and the Health and Safety Executive to investigate all possible sources of the infection and whether there are any links between the cases.

"We are still carrying out investigations to find a common source; any recognised potential sites have been visited and tested and where appropriate asked to carry out a precautionary disinfection. All tests to date have proved negative.

"If we find a common source immediate action will be taken to protect public health and prevent further cases."