HEALTH experts say they do not expect anyone else to develop Legionnaire's disease in the outbreak that struck in Hereford more than a month ago.

No new cases of the potentially fatal disease have been reported since Monday, with the total number of people taken ill during the outbreak, including a pensioner in his 70s who died as a result, remaining at 26.

The incubation period for the disease is between two and 14 days and it has now been two weeks since the probable source of the outbreak - a cooling tower at the Hereford cider giant HP Bulmer - was shut down.

Dr Mike Deakin, Herefordshire's director of public health, said: "We do not expect any new people to develop the disease.

"However, this does not mean that we will not find more cases, as people who already have the disease might not go to their GP until some time after the symptoms develop.

"GPs and hospital staff are remaining on a heightened state of awareness of the possibility of the disease so we are continuing to test many more patients than is usual."

A 24-hour hotline has been set up on 01785 231011 to give advice to members of the public who are concerned about the disease.