Health alert at base after water scare
Showers at a new military accommodation block had to be taken out of action for three days after a bacteria that causes Legionnaires' Disease was found.
Airmen and women at RAF Honington were warned not to use their taps after routine checks found legionella bacteria in the water supply had reached temperatures that meant there was a risk of the potentially fatal form of pneumonia.
The RAF said the single living accommodation block – one of the base's newest buildings – housed 120 people, but stressed that there had been no cases of Legionnaires Disease found on site.
According to the Health Protection Agency (HPA), legionella bacteria is commonly found in water and only becomes a health risk when the temperature allows it to grow rapidly.
A base spokesman said routine checks found temperatures had reached 'action levels' last Wednesday, leading bosses to take the showers out of service and distribute bottled water for personnel to drink and cook with.
"The bacteria is more liable to become more effective as a contaminant if it's in a spray or aerosol form, which is why the showers were taken off," he said.
"Running taps would normally be okay, depending on the level of legionella, but in the meantime, as a precaution, individuals were warned not to use the tap water and bottled water was provided."
He said disinfection was carried out on Saturday, with airmen now able to use their showers and taps as normal. Although one person from the base was currently at West Suffolk Hospital with respiratory problems, it was not thought to be related to the bacteria.
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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