Hot tub could be source of Legionnaires’ outbreak

“We may still expect to see new cases of Legionnaires’ disease related to this outbreak.”

But the HPA emphasised that while a probable cause had been identified, investigations were still ongoing.

JTF said all the hot tubs in all its stores had now been removed, but the Stoke store remained open.

A spokesman said: “JTF is extremely concerned by this incident. We have worked closely with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in recent days to identify the cause and eliminate any further risk.”

Meanwhile environmental health specialists from the HSE and Stoke-on-Trent City Council have continued to take samples from sites across Stoke.

An HSE spokesman said: “HSE continues to inspect premises where we are the enforcing authority and will do so until we have eliminated those sites from our investigations and are sufficiently assured there are no other possible sources.”