Second Death In South Wales Linked To Disease

A leading illness lawyer has called for the investigation to urgently find the source of a suspected Legionnaires' disease outbreak in South Wales to be stepped up today amid concerns that a second death linked to the deadly disease may not be the last.

Clive Garner from law firm Irwin Mitchell said that the death of a 70-year-old man, believed to be the latest victim of an outbreak in the region, demonstrated the seriousness of the illness and urged authorities to do everything in their power to prevent further suffering.

Since the outbreak came to light earlier this week two people have died, 14 have been taken seriously ill and further cases are understood to be under investigation.

Garner said: "Legionnaires' disease can obviously extremely dangerous and tragically, as here, can have fatal consequences. Every year we are asked for help by the families of those who have sadly died following the contraction of Legionnaires' disease or by those whose lives have been turned upside having been exposed to the bacteria.

"We welcome the current investigation into the outbreak but hope that, in light of yet another death, more can be done to urgently find the source of the illness."

Legionella bacteria can be found in small quantities in water systems in the UK and abroad.

People are most likely to contract the disease after inhaling droplets of water containing the bacteria and early symptoms include muscle aches, dry coughs and headaches.