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Wednesday, 30 August, 2000, 14:58 GMT 15:58 UK
Source of Legionnaires' outbreak traced
Culture in petrie dish
Legionnaires' Disease is extremely rare
A team investigating a number of cases of Legionnaires' Disease at a Cardiff hotel two years ago have said it was spread through a food display unit humidifier.

The outbreak at the Copthorne Hotel in Culverhouse Cross in December 1998 left two people dead and four others ill.

The Legionella bug
The Legionella bug causes the disease
The inquiry will now focus on the installation and maintenance of the equipment.

Detective Superintendent Kevin O'Neill said: "To date, six victims have been identified, two of which died.

"Police have made contact with all sufferers and a liaison officer has been appointed.

"The investigation is being progressed with the local environmental health officer and the Health and Safety Executive.

"An inter-agency forum has been set up and includes medical experts to support DI David Bishop and his team," he added.

Legionnaires' Disease is a very rare condition and cannot be passed from person to person.

The disease can only be contracted by breathing very fine aerosols of water containing the bacterium into the lungs.

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See also:

09 Feb 99 | Medical notes
Legionnaire's disease
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