The flu-like illness is treatable with antibiotics but fatal in about one in seven cases.

Of the 92 people confirmed as having the disease, all are said to be responding well to treatment. However, although the crisis may not be as big as originally feared, uncertainty remains.

The regional director of public health says the source of infection is likely to be an air-conditioning unit at a council-run arts centre.

But the 88-year-old man who died had not been to the arts centre in the last month and 130 other sites are being investigated.

Are you affected by the outbreak? What would make you feel safer?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

Your reaction

I have worked as a water treatment engineer for 13 years now, and the regulations are laid down for us and the owners to follow, making wet cooling systems reasonable safe, if the regulations are followed.
Dave, UK

It doesn't surprise me anymore with what happens in Barrow-in-Furness. Because the Council do their own thing anyway, they were elected in by the people and when the people object to things they ride rough-shod over them. I am glad that people with Legionella have rallied round to sue the council, although if they get anywhere I will be surprised, because they blame everybody else but themselves.
Gail Kelly, Barrow-in-Furness

The public is entitled to be protected from known risks such as the Legionella Bacteria and there are laws in place that require directors and managers to conduct risk assessments and take precautions against known problems such as the Legionella bacteria. The courts take such incidents very seriously.
James Savage, UK

What is puzzling me right now is if the gentleman who died has had no contact with the area involved in this outbreak and is listed as an isolated case, then where did he pick it up from? Obviously there are more sources than just this one. The reports say the council are investigating another 130. I think, as residents of the town, we should be made aware of these areas for our own safety!
H McCarthy, Barrow, UK

In a time when we are preparing for biological attacks from terrorist groups, why is it acceptable for organisations not to maintain equipment and poison our own population?
Ray Ward, UK

I want to congratulate the staff

Pamela Goeminne, England

What a shame that on the Today programme there was no mention of the good work that the hospital staff had done in treating Legionnaires' disease. This is only a general hospital and not a major teaching hospital. I want to congratulate the staff on the hard work treating all the cases and the saving of all the lives but one.
Pamela Goeminne, England

Let's use our corporate manslaughter laws and take some bean counters to jail. It seems that in the UK today, if you are not a CEO or do not earn more than a couple of million a year no-one cares about you.
Vish, UK

I am currently a statistic, awaiting the results of my tests

Derek Russell, England

I am currently a statistic, awaiting the results of my tests. Whilst I agree with the condemnations here what about giving some praise for the besieged medical services. My visit to Furness General left me feeling that the staff are well able to cope and are handling the matter with an air of calm professionalism.
Derek Russell, England

I moved from Barrow nearly 18 months ago, the main reason being the poor housing and employment for myself and my children. It is a well known fact that the local council's spending priorities leave a sour taste in a lot of mouths in the community.
Stephen Gibbs, Stevenage, UK

I hate to be the bringer of ill tidings, but we had better get prepared for bigger outbreaks of diseases, and less treatable ones than LD. Due to the overuse of antibiotics, there are now many strains of bacteria all over the world which have bred immunity to most antibiotics. Expect a comeback of diseases that we thought would never return.
Jon, UK

I am very proud of the manner in which Furness General Hospital and the Health and Safety Agencies have responded to this outbreak. I work in Barrow, and I have been impressed by how quickly and efficiently they have responded. Every potential source of infection is being investigated, however remote.
Bernadette Adams, Barrow, UK

I am appalled that open water cooling towers are still allowed

Terry Jones, England

As a former professional in the air conditioning/refrigeration industry I am appalled that open water cooling towers are still allowed. The alternative known in the industry as "dry coolers" have been around for years. Dry coolers work just like the radiator in your car, hot water in a closed circuit is cooled by air passing over finned pipes. The open water tower system is thermodynamically more efficient but requires more maintenance. If the source of the current outbreak is a poorly maintained system the open system should be legally outlawed
Terry Jones, England

One must wonder, once again, how money played an important part in the maintenance of plant and equipment. No one listens to engineers - accountants rule.
Lancelot Howard Barron, Middlesbrough U.K.

It is unlikely criminal charges will be brought against individuals, as this has not occurred even in the recent railway accidents. Anti- Legionella control methods are well understood. Has this building a directly employed team or an external contractor for building services maintenance?
Tony, UK

This should be a case of corporate manslaughter. How many more innocent people have to die before this type of installation is banned?
Dave J, UK

As a former water treatment consultant I am very puzzled about why the open loop heat-rejection system (an open water based evaporator) was not treated to avoid infestation with the causative agent for Legionnaires' disease, a simple bacterium. As a one time professional microbiologist I know that there is water treatment chemicals specifically designed to deal with this exact issue. What has happened, in my humble opinion, amounts to an open and shut case of criminal negligence.
Chris Wood PhD, UK/living in USA

Under the requirements of the current Health and Safety Commissions Approved Code of Practice (L8) - for the control of legionella bacteria, building owners and managers must carry out a comprehensive 'legionellosis risk assessment' (every 24 months as a minimum) in order to help prevent situations like the one seen in Cumbria. The risk assessment report must include a written scheme for controlling the potential risk of Legionnaires' disease on an ongoing basis and records of all checks and inspections must be kept for routine inspection by local environmental Health Officers or by Health & Safety Executive inspectors.
Alan Hannay, London

Standards for checking and maintaining these systems should be much more severe

Mark, USA

Once the source of the original outbreak of Legionnaires' disease was discovered, it became apparent that air conditioning systems have the potential to be very dangerous to human life. Standards for checking and maintaining these systems should be much more severe and there should be real penalties for those who ignore them.
Mark, USA

Another British case of negligence and incompetence. If this was anywhere else in Europe hundreds of executives and government officials would be in the dock for corporate manslaughter or at least sacked and disgraced. Here, we shuffle the blame round and round and no-one ever is held accountable for their actions.
James Kenyon, UK

Those people who are quick to complain about the NHS might care to reflect that only two years ago Barrow and Lancaster Hospitals had a big increase in intensive care unit beds and staff. This has meant the outbreak can be handled locally with the optimum level of care. Still think the 20 year old problems of the NHS can't be solved by "throwing money at it"??
Phil, Lancaster, UK

Health and safety laws require that the operators of any factory or office or similar should provide a safe environment. It's time to see the people negligent in this case put in jail for this avoidable loss of life.
John B, U.K.

It has been known for years that 'air conditioning water cooling tanks' can be a prime breeding ground for Legionnaires disease. This is a situation where someone has not been doing their job properly, and at the least that person or persons should be fired. Our prayers go to those affected with the disease and their loved ones.
Stephen G, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK

Cooling systems that rely on water as a method for heat transfer are outdated. The engineering alternative is to use "Dry" systems, these do not have the potential to cause the spread of Legionella. Despite "wet" cooling towers requiring registration they still can be used. The control of Legionella thus relies upon the operator of such systems to use appropriate measures to control the bacteria. Is it now time to introduce legislation to "time expire" such systems rather than rely on an albeit excellent Code of Practice ?
Robert Yuill, England

I live in Barrow, Walney island to be precise, which is an island separated from Barrow by a bridge. I and many others on the island will not be going over the bridge to the town centre for a long time. This will effect trade in the market areas of the town. A punishing blow just when the effects of foot and mouth were becoming history.
Robert Heron, Cumbria

It has already been commented on that this was down to poor maintenance. No doubt nobody will take the blame for this, each blaming the other. In any country, other than the UK, people would be brought up on charges for this. I suspect that whoever is responsible will be �transferred sideways� other than sacked and prosecuted, as they should be. England, land of blinkers and denial.
Richard Hall, England

I hope the source of the outbreak can be established very soon

Jean, England

I have friends living in Barrow-in-Furness who are pensioners like me, so of course I am concerned for them. I hope the source of the outbreak can be established very soon and something is done quickly to put things right.
Jean, England

Every office that has lifts has to have them inspected periodically by law... Why aren't their air conditioning and other water systems checked for Legionnaires' too?
Barry, UK

John Brownlee refers to Legionnaires' disease as a virus. Fortunately for all of us, LD is not a virus, it is a bacterium which is much more easily treated. Viri are far less easy to deal with - HIV being a topical case in point - and if Legionnaires' disease were a virus rather than a bacterium we would have cause for serious concern about our ability to get rid of it.
Chris B, England

Can it be that modern air conditioning systems are a breeding ground for this disease and that insufficient guidance is given to ensure that the water vapour they pump out is not loaded with this virus?
John Brownlee, England

This is a crime with many victims and few perpetrators

Ricardo, Scotland

Surely this is one of the most easily prevented diseases around? Air conditioning systems and cooling towers should be checked just as other aspects of public buildings are checked. There's truly no excuse for an outbreak of this sort.
Arri London, EU/US

Just to put Peter Haymes mind at ease, no, there is no health risk from his car air conditioning -- car systems are sealed to the atmosphere, and use proprietary freon substitutes as the heat-exchanging fluid, not water, and so do not provide an environment conducive to bacterial growth.
Tony Sweeney, USA

Are air conditioning systems in cars potential sources of the infection? If they are is the normal servicing in the garage sufficient to establish any risk?
Peter Haymes, UK

There are strict Health and Safety codes of practice for the control of legionella. Can we now expect the sacking or prosecution or both of the officials concerned in this Local Authority?
Alan, Wales, UK

The regional Director of health put the cause down to inadequate maintenance of the a/c unit at Forum 28. How about those responsible for overseeing the maintenance - not the contractor - is terminated with loss of all pension privileges. Thus those replacing the terminated would make very sure that they did their job to the full. This is a crime with many victims and few perpetrators.
Ricardo, Scotland