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Two patients died after contracting a fungal infection with pigeon droppings in a hospital.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGCC) has launched an investigation into the death of a patient at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, whose cause remains to be determined.
The health board said that the second affected patient – an elderly person – had died as a result of another problem.
Control measures were immediately put in place after the detection of both cryptococcal cases.
A spokesman said, "Our thoughts are with families in this difficult time.
"Due to patient confidentiality, we can not share more details about both cases.
"The body is harmless to the vast majority of people and rarely causes disease in humans."
The infection is caused by the inhalation of Cryptococcus fungus, mainly present in soils and pigeon droppings.
The NHSGCC stated that a probable source had been found in a non-public area, away from the gates and that feces had been removed.
The board of health said that a small number of adult patients and children vulnerable to infection were receiving medications, which has proven to be effective.
Teresa Inkster, NHSGCC Senior Consultant for Infection Control, said, "Cryptococci live in the environment around the world. It rarely causes an infection in humans.
"People can become infected after breathing microscopic fungi, although most people who are exposed to it never get sick.
"There have been no other cases since the introduction of control measures.
"In the meantime, we continue to monitor the quality of the air and these results are being badyzed.
"Our priority is to provide patients and staff with a safe environment."
As an added precaution, the health commission has installed portable HEPA filter units in specific areas, which filter the air continuously.
The NHSGCC said that during investigations, the sealer had been implicated in some of the shower rooms.
The repairs are underway and the maintenance team is working to resolve the problem as quickly as possible with as little disruption as possible, he added.
The Health Council added that as a further precaution, a specific group of patients is being transferred to the hospital due to its clinical diagnosis and ongoing treatment.
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