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Legionnaires': Legal Action And Second Death

Legionnaires': Legal Action And Second Death

Five people are taking legal action over an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Edinburgh, it has been reported.

The move was announced hours after it was confirmed that second man has died after contracting the disease.

The man, in his 40s, was from the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, which is in the centre of the area affected.

Sky News understands that he had underlying health problems and had been admitted to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary early on in the outbreak.

Forty-one people have fallen victim to Legionnaires' since the end of May. The number of suspected cases stands at 48.

The first man to die was 56-year-old Robert Air, who had been working on a building site in Gorgie, to the southwest of Edinburgh.

News of a second fatality came as figures were indicating the outbreak had peaked.

Scotland's health secretary, Nicola Sturgeon said: "My sincere condolences go to the family and friends of the patient who passed away in Edinburgh in a case linked to the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the city.

"Despite this sad and tragic development, it remains the case that we believe the outbreak to have peaked."

She added: "NHS Lothian services are coping with the continued demand and the City of Edinburgh Council and the Health and Safety Executive continue to make significant progress in their investigation to identify the source of this outbreak."

The authorities believe the infection came from cooling towers in the area, although the exact source it yet to be identified.

The Health and Safety Executive has issued orders to two industrial sites in the area within the past few days.

The North British Distillery Company was issued with an improvement notice and censured for failing to devise and implement a sustained, effective biocide control programme for a cooling tower on its site.

The pharmaceuticals firm Macfarlan Smith has been ordered to clean one of its cooling towers and to provide inspection access.

Despite the orders on the two firms, the HSE says they don't mean that either of the two are to blame for the legionnaires' outbreak.

:: Anyone concerned about the outbreak can call a special NHS helpline - 0800 0858 531.