Menzieshill Community Centre is at the centre of another suspected legionella scare, after showers in the male changing room were closed for the second time in less than a year.
Dundee City Council has refused to confirm or deny whether the closure is related to legionella bacteria being present in the showers. Lord Provost Bob Duncan said he was aware of the closure but not the actual cause.
A spokesperson for the city council would only say: “The showers are closed as a precautionary measure while tests are being carried out on the water supply.”
However, a source at the centre said it was understood tests had shown traces of the legionella bacterium for the second time since November, and only months after the shower room was completely refurbished.
“Those showers are a disaster. Not long after the last outbreak in November they closed them for months for refurbishment. They were only open for a few weeks after that before they had to be shut again.
“We were told it was because water had seeped in behind the wet walls and they had to be done again.
“Then about six weeks ago the water was tested again and they shut them down immediately. We were told it would be for about 10 days but that was before the holiday fortnight. People using the gym have had to go to the Lynch Centre or use the ladies showers.”
He added: “It doesn’t take six weeks to test the showers if there’s nothing seriously wrong.”
Mr Duncan said: “I was up at my surgery and asked the management about it and they said one of the showers had shown abnormalities during their recent tests, but I don’t know what it is.”
Last year’s case was confirmed by the council, which said no-one had been affected by the bacterium and there was no threat to public health. NHS Tayside were informed and tests had been conducted and measures taken to eradicate the bacteria.
The discovery followed the outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in Edinburgh that caused the deaths of three people and affected more than 100 others last year.
Legionella is a bacteria found in the environment that can cause two types of illness the potentially lethal legionnaires’ disease, which is a lung infection, and Pontiac fever, a milder, flu-like illness.
The community centre remains open to the public.