Legionnaires' disease is spread by water droplets

Health officials have confirmed two more people have contracted Legionnaires' disease in the outbreak in Hereford, bringing the total number of cases to ten.

A man in his 50s and a woman in her 40s are described as "stable".

Two people in their 70s, from Hereford, have died during the outbreak.

Unusually, health officials have said that they may never know the source of the disease, although environmental health officers are continuing to test buildings around Hereford.

Dr Mike Deakin, the county's director of public health, said further cases of the illness linked to the outbreak were not unexpected.

'Visited Hereford'

"We had anticipated that more cases would come to light partly because of our extensive testing of patients and partly because of the incubation period of the disease."

He added that although more cases have been confirmed it does not mean that the source of the infection had not already been eradicated.

Paul Bates, chief executive of the Herefordshire Primary Care Trust, told a news conference on Tuesday: "We fully appreciate the anxiety that this is causing to the people of Herefordshire.

"The public should be reassured that everything which needs to be done is being done."

Six victims are being treated at Hereford County Hospital

Nine cases have involved Herefordshire residents, while the other involved a 72-year-old Welshman.

It is believed the man may have contracted the disease during two visits to Hereford.

He is said to be stable and is being treated in a Welsh hospital whose location has not been disclosed.

A further six victims are also being treated in Hereford County Hospital for the disease.

One is in a stable condition and the rest are improving or not thought to be seriously ill.

One man in his 40s has recovered and been sent home.

Doctors across the region have been alerted to the symptoms of Legionnaires', which include a flu-like illness with muscle aches, tiredness, headache, dry cough and fever.

Samples have been taken from the confirmed cases to see whether patients have caught the disease from the same source.

The results are expected soon.