Legionnaire’s disease found in showers at Scottish Police College

Trainee officers at the Scottish Police College in Fife have been put on alert after routine testing detected a Legionnaire’s outbreak.

The potentially deadly bacteria was identified in the waterworks at the facility in Tulliallan.

Around 300 probationary officers were sworn in at the college earlier this month, but no one has fallen ill as a result of the bacteria.

Police Scotland Chief Inspector Rachael Burns said: “On Wednesday, routine testing detected traces of Legionnaire’s disease in five shower heads at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan.

“The shower heads are being replaced and contingency plans are in place.”

The NHS says the disease is not usually spread human-to-human in the same way as other illnesses.

The bug is common in low numbers in natural sources of water but can also grow in air conditioning systems, waterworks and swimming pools.

It is usually caught when someone inhales water droplets when showering or using taps with an infected water supply.

Symptoms include a cough, chest pain, fever and difficulty breathing.

In April, The Courier revealed a man in Newburgh had died from the disease.