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Officials are investigating if motorists could have inhaled the bacteria whilst driving past industrial sites.
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Two dead and 14 ill as Legionnaires' outbreak in Wales spreads
10th of September 2010Public Health Wales is investigating whether motorists driving past a cluster of factories on the busy A465 road in South Wales could have become infected by inhaling the deadly Legionella bacteria.
The cases are spread over a large area along the Heads of the Valley corridor, with seven local authorities involved in the investigation. Officials admitted that the public remains at risk of infection until the source can be identified.
The disease, which causes lung infections and pneumonia, brings symptoms of muscle ache, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever.
It is contracted by breathing fine mist or droplets from a contaminated water source, and can be lethal for those who are already ill because their immune systems are weakened.
Information has been circulated to GPs in South Wales advising them of the correct steps to take if patients show signs of infection, and anyone who is concerned about their health is advised to contact their local surgery.
Dr Gwen Lowe, a consultant in communicable disease control for Public Health Wales, said: “Legionnaires’ disease is a rare but potentially life threatening illness. Most of the cases of Legionnaires’ disease that are notified to us are isolated cases, but outbreaks can occur.
“People become infected when they inhale Legionella bacteria which are spread through the air in the form of a fine mist or droplets from a contaminated water source. Legionnaires’ disease cannot be passed from person to person.”
The councils involved in the investigation include Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Monmouthshire.
There were 24 confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease in Wales last year.
-Daily Telegraph 10.09.10
