A THIRTEENTH person has fallen victim to Legionnaire's Disease.

Health officials announced that the woman, in her 90s, had been diagnosed with the disease today.

The news comes after it was revealed that one of the two pensioners whose death had been attributed to Legionnaire's disease did not die from the illness.

Initial tests on another woman from Hereford, who was in her 70s, had indicated she had Legionnaire's disease, but further tests have proved negative, it was announced in a joint statement by the Health Protection Agency, Herefordshire Council, and Herefordshire Primary Care Trust.

"Whilst the initial test was positive for the organism, further, more specific tests which take longer to complete have now confirmed that the patient did not, in fact, have Legionnaire's disease," said the statement.

The pensioner was one of two who were diagnosed with Legionnaire's disease on Friday, October 24. The other, a man in his 70s, died from the illness.

Another man in his 40s has recovered and has since been discharged from hospital.

Two others are said to be improving, another, a man in his 70s, has been transferred from intensive care onto a ward and the remaining eight have all been described as being in a "stable" condition.

Meanwhile, investigations into potential sources of the outbreak continue after the Hereford cider-making giant HP Bulmers Ltd was named as a possible source behind the outbreak.

Initial tests of a cooling tower at the Plough Lane cider-makers has come back "presumptive positive" - suggesting the presence of the disease's Legionella bacterium.

This is yet to be confirmed.