Two inpatients and one hospital employee became infected with Legionnaires’ disease at the end of 2012 in an outbreak at St Christopher’s Hospice, Sydenham.

Legionnaires’ disease is contracted by inhaling water vapour infected by Legionella bacteria which thrive in warm water. Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease include muscle fever, aches, chest pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. The disease can be fatal, particularly in the elderly and those with chronic illness, highlighting the increased danger of allowing the bacteria to spread in places like hospices, hospitals and care homes.

The affected employee remains in hospital as the inpatient unit was closed to new admissions from mid-January 2013 in order to bring forward a full pipe work refurbishment.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has been notified of all three cases and are currently providing the hospice with measures to prevent further infection whilst it investigates the source of the outbreak, which is as yet unknown.

Prevention is the best cure and cases like this can be avoided simply by regular cleaning and maintenance. Stories of Legionnaires’ outbreaks are common and quite clearly more needs to be done to raise awareness of this potentially fatal disease.

If you have suffered from Legionnaires’ disease and wish to discuss making a compensation claim, call us on 0800 0384 384 for a free consultation with one of our experienced Industrial Illness Solicitors.