Experts Urge Health Authorities To Investigate Quickly And Thoroughly

By Rob Dixon

Legal experts representing victims of Legionnaires’ outbreaks in Edinburgh and Stoke-on-Trent have called on authorities in Leicester to work quickly to investigate how a workman in the city contracted the illness.

A man, believed to be a plumber, has been hospitalised after working in a disused building at New College in the New Parks area of the city. A second man is also being tested in relation to the disease.

The school has remained open after Leicester City Council revealed its confidence that staff and students would not be affected by the issue, as the building’s systems were isolated from those currently in use.

Irwin Mitchell’s specialist illness team represent victims affected by outbreaks across the globe, including notably people struck by Legionnaires’ disease in the past year as a result of high-profile problems in both Edinburgh and Stoke-on-Trent.

Suki Chhokar, a Partner and expert in such illness claims at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Following the major cases of Legionnaires’ seen in the past year, it is worrying to see another case emerge.

“While the fundamental priority at present will be ensuring that no one else is affected by the illness, attention will need to turn to fully investigating the source of the outbreak and how this man came to contract the bug.

“Through our work, we have seen numerous cases when people have suffered long-term health issues as a result of illnesses such as Legionnaires, so the seriousness of these problems clearly should not be underestimated.

“Many people will be worried about these developments, including the parents of pupils at the school, so it is vital that everyone is kept fully updated as to the progress of investigations and the lessons which can be learned.”

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