By Lars Niven

HEALTH EXPERTS probing the recent outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in west Fife have confirmed a bug which can cause the illness has been found at Rosyth Dockyard.

A strain of the Legionella bacteria was discovered in sullage tanks, which are used to collect waste water from ships undergoing refit work at the Fife yard.

NHS Fife stressed last night it was not possible to say whether the tanks had caused last month’s outbreak, which claimed the life of a 70-year-old woman in Dunfermline.

Five other people who contracted the disease made a full recovery and two others are still receiving treatment in hospital.

NHS Fife’s outbreak control team have taken steps to prevent any risk of transmission of Legionella from the tanks. Rosyth Dockyard’s owners, Babcock Engineering Services, said they were co-operating fully with the health authority.

Precautions have also been put in place to protect workers at the dockyard.

In a statement, NHS Fife said, “At this stage not all the cases identified can be linked to these sites.

“Further results are awaited as part of the ongoing investigation.”

No further cases of legionnaires’ disease have been linked to west Fife since December 8.

A spokesman for Babcock said, “We have been advised by NHS Fife that samples taken from sites within the Rosyth Dockyard area identified a possible source of Legionella.

“We have been co-operating fully with the local health authorities.

“There is nothing to add to the statement issued by NHS Fife, which makes it clear that it is not possible to say whether these sites have been the source of infection.”

Dr Jackie Hyland, consultant in public health medicine, said, “Legionnaires’ disease is an uncommon, but serious disease. It usually affects middle-aged or elderly people.

“It is generally spread by the inhalation of tiny water droplets containing the bacteria, often from water-cooled air conditioning towers or units.

“Most people who are exposed to Legionella do not become ill.

“People who smoke, who have certain chronic diseases, or whose immune system is impaired from illness or drug treatment have a significantly higher risk of infection than the general public.”

The symptoms develop up to 10 days after infection occurs and include fever, abdominal pain, headache, muscle pains and chest infection or pneumonia.

Anyone who develops such symptoms and who has been in the Rosyth area should contact their GP.