An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Cumbria could have been much worse without new anti-terrorism measures, according to a report.

Seven people died and 150 were infected with the disease in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, earlier this year.

The source of the outbreak was traced back to a poorly-maintained air conditioning system at the Forum 28 arts centre in the town.

A new report into the outbreak says measures put in place to deal with chemical or biological attacks could have prevented a further 13 deaths.

Specialist team

A government white paper published in late 2001 recommended setting up a new Public Health Protection Agency, due to start up next April.

This was in response to the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September 2001.

But some local authorities pre-empted the proposals by creating specialised health protection units with teams of experts ready for emergencies.

In previous outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease, 15% of cases prove fatal.

But in Barrow in August, the bug claimed the lives of only about 5% of those infected.

High mortality

One reason for this was the ability to set up a team to work on the outbreak "at the touch of a button" so that patients received fast, high quality care.

Dr Nick Gent, who led the outbreak control team, said: "As a result of those measures, I could plonk a team of 10 people with all the skills we needed and provide a very, very rapid and heavy response.

"That would have been extraordinary difficult to do beforehand."

There were five "clear cut" deaths from the disease and police are investigating two others as part of their inquiry into the outbreak.

Director of public health for Morecambe Bay, Dr Frank Atherton, said: "It is true that in previous outbreaks around the world, the mortality rates have been significantly higher than the rate we had in Barrow.

"This was the first major test in the UK of the new public health arrangements brought in in the summer."