ENVIRONMENTAL Health officers in Bournemouth are still investigating the possible link between a case of Legionnaire’s Disease and a hotel in the town.

As reported in the Echo holiday maker Peter Apps, 74, from Kent, fell critically ill with the potentially deadly disease after returning home last month following a stay in an en suite room at a Bournemouth hotel.

The case, reported to Public Health England, is under investigation by Bournemouth Borough Council environmental health officers who took samples from an unnamed hotel – which closed voluntarily last month.

Louise Jones, environment health team manager, said: “We are investigating a legionella report received from Public Health England relating to a person that stayed in a Bournemouth hotel. Officers have carried out visits to the hotel and have taken a number of samples from the premises.

“The investigation and microbiological testing is ongoing, with the aim of pinpointing whether the potential source or sources was within the hotel. If that is the case the council will expect that the hotel demonstrates it has completely and permanently eradicated the problem. As this is a potential enforcement matter which could lead to proceedings, the council is not able to comment any further at this stage.”

Legionnaire’s disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia caused by legionella bacteria which can grow in water systems maintained at a certain temperature. It is contracted by inhaling small droplets of water suspended in the air containing the bacteria.