Legionnaires' disease infects 36 people in England

LONDON -- At least 36 people have been infected in an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease that killed an elderly man, and dozens more may also have the disease, officials said Saturday.

Health authorities in the northwestern county of Cumbria said that along with the 36 confirmed cases, 23 people were showing typical symptoms. They also predicted that 100 more cases could materialize in the next 10 days.

It was believed the disease spread from the air conditioning system at a community center in the town of Barrow-in-Furness.

Twelve people were in intensive care after developing lung or kidney complications as a result of the illness, doctors said. The unidentified 89-year-old man died Friday.

Town councilor Terry Waiting said the center's air conditioning had been expelling steam into the street. Authorities shut down the community center.

Legionnaires' disease is a form of pneumonia caused by bacteria in water droplets. It breeds in warm, moist conditions, and in most major outbreaks the source of infection has been water in the air conditioning systems of public buildings.