Cases of Legionnaires' disease 'linked to Corfu'

People who went on cheap holidays to Greece's island of Corfu this August have been advised to be aware of the symptoms of Legionnaires' disease after nine cases were recorded.

The Health Protection Agency explained that each of the nine patients have recently been to Corfu, although it cannot rule out a UK source of infection.

Legionnaires' can result in pneumonia which is caused by the legionella bacterium found in water droplets.

The illness is not contagious but sufferers need early antibiotic treatment or else they can become very sick or even die from Legionnaires'.

Professor Nick Phin of the agency commented: "We are concerned that UK residents travelling to Corfu should be aware of this potential risk; however, we are not suggesting that people change their holiday plans.

"Legionnaires' disease is very rare and cannot be spread from person to person so the risk is low," he added.

Holidaymakers should not worry about contracting the disease on their cheap package holidays to Greece, although it is advisable to only drink water from sealed bottles and try to avoid ice in drinks.

Posted by Adam Greene