Second man dies in Edinburgh Legionnaires' outbreak as NHS reports 42 confirmed cases of the disease

Second man dies in Edinburgh Legionnaires' outbreak as NHS reports 42 confirmed cases of the disease Victim had 'significant pre-existing underlying health conditions Another 47 people are suspected to have the illness By Daniel Miller Published: 03:39 BST, 15 June 2012 | Updated: 18:15 BST, 16 June 2012 View comments A second person has died after catching Legionnaires' disease in the outbreak in Edinburgh. The man, who had significant pre-existing underlying health conditions, died yesterday evening in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. NHS Lothian said that he was one of the previously confirmed cases in the outbreak, which began in the Scottish capital at the beginning of June.Legionnaires death: The man, who had significant pre-existing underlying health conditions died yesterday evening in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary The first man to die was named as Robert Air, 56, from the Seafield area of the capital, whose death was reported on June 5. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Boy with no name: Town turns out to bid a touching farewell to the anonymous baby dumped by stream Share this article Share Another case of Legionnaires' disease has also been confirmed, bringing the total figures up to 42 confirmed cases and 47 suspected cases. The ages of the confirmed cases range between 33 and 81, with more males than females affected. Eight people are in intensive care being treated for the disease, down from a high of 15 last Sunday, and 18 are on general wards. The Health and Safety Executive and Edinburgh City Council continue to investigate the possible source of the outbreak in the south-west of the capital. Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: 'My sincere condolences go to the family and friends of the patient who passed away in Edinburgh tonight in a case linked to the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the city. My thoughts are with them at this very difficult time. 'Despite this sad and tragic development, it remains the case that we believe the outbreak to have peaked. However, we continue to monitor the situation carefully. Checks: An Edinburgh distillery yesterday, one of the possible sources of the Legionnaires disease outbreak Dr Duncan McCormick, Chair of the Incident Management Teamnd Consultant in Public Health Medicine at NHS Lothian, said: 'Whilst we realised that further deaths were a possibility this additional death is extremely sad and I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family of the patient.' On Monday a pharmaceuticals firm in the area where most of the cases originate was served with two improvement notices by the HSE. The watchdog ordered thorough cleaning of one of Macfarlan Smith's cooling towers and ordered provision of access for the same tower so it can be inspected and maintained. Last week the watchdog served an improvement notice on North British Distillery Company in the same area. The firm was censured for failing to devise and implement a sustained, effective Biocide (https://writeablog.net/chengfriedman8/europes-polyethylene-market-takes-a-bearish-turn-on-damaging-need) control programme for one cooling tower on its site. The improvement notices do not mean any of the towers are the source of the outbreak. The source may never be conclusively identified, based on experience from previous outbreaks. Legionnaires' disease, also known as Legionellosis, is associated with poorly maintained air conditioning cooling towers and potable water systems On June 14 a man who caught Legionnaires' disease said he wants answers about how the deadly outbreak started. Terry Holeran, 55, said he has instructed specialist illness lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help him find out how the outbreak occurred and what can be done to prevent it from recurring. Mr Holeran, from Saughton Mains, Edinburgh, became ill on June 5 with aches and pains, tiredness and breathlessness. He was treated at Western General Hospital but doctors sent him home with antibiotics because they feared his weakened immune system would allow other diseases in. He said: 'It has been one of the worst weeks of my life. 'I'm just so angry about the whole thing and want to know what went wrong to cause the outbreak.' Legionnaires' disease is contracted by breathing in small droplets of contaminated water. Symptoms include mild headaches, muscle pain, fever, a persistent cough and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea. About half of those with Legionnaires' disease will also experience changes to their mental state, such as confusion.