HEALTH officials have confirmed an eighth person has been struck by Legionnaire's disease following the outbreak in Hereford.

The latest case of the illness was discovered in a man in his 30s, who lives in the county and comes less than 24 hours after a seventh case was announced.

The source of the bug, which has claimed the life of two pensioners, is believed to be in the city, but has still not been identified.

Paul Bates, chief executive of the Herefordshire Primary Care Trust, speaking at a news conference yesterday, moved to reassure the public.

"We fully appreciate the anxiety that this is causing the people of Herefordshire," he said.

"The public should be reassured that everything which needs to be done is being done."

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Seven cases are all believed to be linked to the centre of Hereford, with all people living nearby.

The other involved a 72-year-old Welshman, who it is believed contracted the disease following two visits to the city.

Herefordshire NHS Primary Care Trust said around 200 cases of the disease, a type of pneumonia, are reported across England and Wales each year. This would make the county's average share one case in two years.

The organisms which cause the illness are found in ponds, hot and cold water systems and in air conditioning cooling systems.

They only become a problem in warm temperatures when they spread through the air from a water source.

The disease mainly affects people more than 50 years old and is not passed from person to person.

Early symptoms include muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever. Sometimes diarrhoea occurs and confusion may develop.

The temporary hotline number is 01785 231011.