Posted on 08/05/2002 4:37:03 PM PDT by Litany
BUG outbreak 'treated like murder' by Danielle Gusmaroli
Police investigating one of Britain's biggest outbreaks of legionnaires' disease are treating the inquiry "as if it were murder", they said today as the number of confirmed cases rose to 54. Barrow Borough council, which runs the Forum 28 entertainment complex in Cumbria - where traces of the potentially fatal bacteria have been found in the water-cooling system - could face a charge of corporate manslaughter. The Barrow-in-Furness outbreak killed Richard Macaulay 88, on Friday. About 71 people are in hospital, 15 of them in intensive care and four "giving cause for grave concern". A fiveyearold girl and a boy aged seven are on life-support. Technical manager Kevin Borthwick, believed to have been responsible for maintenance in council buildings, has been suspended. It is believed he will be interviewed by police and the Health and Safety Executive.
Police superintendent Ted Thwaites said: "This investigation is being treated very seriously, as if it were a murder inquiry. Although a murder has not been committed there is a possibility an unlawful death has occurred. "We could have more deaths. The worse case scenario is that a charge of corporate manslaughter could be laid against the council."
Police examined council maintenance records. Investigations reveal the water treatment unit, around 30 years old, was reportedly left unrepaired for a month. The system should have been checked for the legionella bug at least once a month. Steam had been spotted pumping into an alleyway used by around 1,000 people each day.
Public health officials today maintained they were "optimistic" they had seen the worst of the outbreak.
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