A reported case of Legionnaires' Disease with alleged links to a laboratory at the centre of a foot-and-mouth outbreak in Britain is being investigated.
The Institute of Animal Health (IAH) at Pirbright, Surrey, is one of several locations being assessed under national guidance that says every place a patient has visited in the days before falling ill should be investigated, the Health Protection Agency said.
Environmental health inspectors have taken water samples from the institute after it was discovered a worker contracted the disease, according to reports.
It is believed the case predates the foot-and-mouth outbreak, which has been traced to the laboratory facilities at Pirbright.
The Legionnaires' inquiry is examining everywhere the patient has been in the 10-14 days before falling ill.
Legionnaires' Disease is caused by a type of bacterium found in the environment that causes a problem if it is converted into an aerosol form from a water source - in showers or spas, for example - and inhaled.
It cannot be spread from one person to another and mainly affects those aged over 50. Symptoms include a "flu-like" illness with muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever, leading to pneumonia.