An evaporation unit was closed while tests were carried out

One person has died and 25 others have contracted the disease in the outbreak, which has threatened Hereford for the past three weeks.

Two weeks ago the source was traced to a cooling tower at HP Bulmers cider plant in Plough Lane.

The fruit processing plant was immediately closed so no more bacteria could escape.

As the incubation period of the legionella bug is between two and 14 days, and health officials are now confident that Bulmers is the only source of the outbreak, they say it is unlikely to claim any new victims.

Dr Mike Deakin, Herefordshire's director of public health, said: "We do not expect any new people to develop Legionnaires' disease, although this does not mean that we will not find more cases as people who already have the disease might not go to their GP until some time after the symptoms develop.

"GPs and hospital staff are remaining on a heightened state of awareness of the possibility of the disease so we are continuing to test many more patients than is usual."

Legionnaires' is a rare form of pneumonia and the bacteria is found in ponds and water systems and is often spread by air conditioning units.

Hereford should normally see just one case in every two years, six people, two women and four men in their 50s, 60s and 70s, are still in hospital in a stable condition.