Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak Has Scotland Worried

Following a string of odd stories here in the states involving flesh-eating bacteria, Scotland is now dealing with a frightening disease that is transmitted through contaminated water and has now killed one man in Edinburgh and has several others in critical condition.

Because the infection isn’t transmitted from person to person, officials in Scotland are worried about the number of people who are showing symptoms of it. The bacteria causes something like pneumonia after tiny droplets of infected water are breathed into the lungs and is found in warm water sources, much like the flesh-eating disease that took several limbs from college student Aimee Copeland last month. That disease, caused by the bacteria necrotizing fasciitis, is a much more severe form of the bacteria that causes strep throat and has since been connected to at least two other people in the southern half of the U.S. It thrives in warm water, just as Legionnaires’ Disease does.

Fifteen people have been diagnosed with the disease in Scotland, one has been treated and released, and one has died. Another fifteen suspected cases are being investigated as officials insist they have health care professionals actively seeking out people who are showing symptoms. They believe that industrial cooling towers are to blame for the sudden outbreak, but are trying to keep the public’s fear at bay by releasing an announcement that their drinking water is safe.