Worst of Britain's Legionnaire Outbreak 'Over'

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, August 06, 2002

Worst of Britain's Legionnaire Outbreak 'Over'

The worst of the Legionnaire's disease outbreak in Cumbria, northwest England, may be over, health officials said on Monday.

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The worst of the Legionnaire's disease outbreak in Cumbria, northwest England, may be over, health officials said on Monday.

A total of 64 cases of the potentially fatal disease, which hasbeen linked to one death so far, have been confirmed in what is the biggest outbreak in Britain for 10 years.

Two intensive care patients remain critically ill but others inthe unit are said to be making good progress.

Investigations into the outbreak have centered on the council-run arts and civic center in Barrow-in-Furness.

A council official has been suspended and police have been questioning other staff about maintenance at the center. Eighteenpeople were in intensive care units in five hospitals across northwest England.

Health officials said all but two were making "extremely good" progress. Tests are being carried out on 30 other people who have been admitted to hospital suspected of having the disease. An 88-year-old man have died with Legionnaires' disease last week. The incubation period for Legionnaire's disease is between five and 10days. It cannot be passed from one person to another.

There had been fears that the outbreak could claim as many as 20 lives when details first emerged on Friday.

But doctors said patients appeared to be responding well to treatment and the disease may not have affected as many as first feared.

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