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Two Dead Following Pigeon Poo Infection At Glasgow Hospital

Two Dead Following Pigeon Poo Infection At Glasgow Hospital

The infection has been described as 'very unusual in the UK'

Jake Massey

Jake Massey

Two patients have died at a hospital in Glasgow after contracting a fungal infection caused by pigeon poo.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) said an infected elderly patient at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital died, but from an unrelated cause.

The factors contributing to the death of the other infected patient are still being investigated.

The airborne infection, which is a Cryptococcus species, is thought to have potentially stemmed from a non-public room in which machinery is stored. A small number of vulnerable paediatric and adult patients are receiving medication to protect against the infection.

High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters have also been installed as a precautionary measure. A group of patients have also been moved within the hospital due to their specific clinical diagnosis as an additional precaution.

A NHSGGC spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with the families at this distressing time.

"Due to patient confidentiality we cannot share further details of the two cases.

"The organism is harmless to the vast majority of people and rarely causes disease in humans."

Teresa Inkster, lead consultant for infection control, said most people exposed to the fungus do not become ill from it.

She said: "Cryptococcus lives in the environment throughout the world. It rarely causes infection in humans.

"People can become infected with it after breathing in the microscopic fungi, although most people who are exposed to it never get sick from it.

"There have been no further cases since the control measures were put in place.

"It remains our priority to ensure a safe environment for patients and staff."

Professor Hugh Pennington, of Aberdeen University, said he was surprised to learn of the infection, adding that those with weak immune systems are at the greatest risk.

Speaking to the BBC, the epidemiologist said: "It is very unusual in the UK. It is quite common in other parts of the world, particularly in tropical parts and in the US and in countries like that, where they have more problems with this particular kind of fungus.

"When it gets into the blood stream a lot of people have fairly straightforward infections and it settles in the lungs but the big problem with this is that it can cause meningitis and, as we know, meningitis can be a very serious infection."

The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital was opened in April 2015 at a cost of £842 ($1,084) million.

Featured Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons/PA

Topics: UK News