A nursing home at the centre of a Legionnaire’s disease investigation has been given the all-clear.

Health bosses launched urgent tests of the water systems at Rose Court care home in Radcliffe, near Bury, after a resident was taken to hospital with symptoms of the potentially-deadly disease.

Experts from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) confirmed that initial tests on the unnamed man confirmed a possible presence of the bacteria, which is transmitted through water vapour. It led to a probe by a team of specialists from the HPA, Bury council, the Health and Safety Executive and NHS Bury.

Now health chiefs have revealed that further specialised testing of the samples taken from him has failed to confirm a Legionella infection.

The elderly man is now being treated for pneumonia at Fairfield Hospital in Bury and is said to be making a good recovery.

The HPA said the microbiological tests indicated that it was ‘highly unlikely’ that he had Legionnaire’s disease.

A spokesman said: “Further specialised testing at the HPA’s Centre for Infections at Colindale, London, has failed to confirm Legionella infection in samples from a resident of Rose Court Nursing and Residential Home in Bury. It is therefore highly unlikely that the patient has Legionnaire’s disease.” The test results and all-clear message have been passed to the care home’s managers.

The HPA spokesman added: “Residents and their relatives are being given reassurance that no evidence of a Legionella risk has been found.”

Tests on the home’s water supply have also come back negative for the bug.

Belinda Gibson, area manager for Southern Cross healthcare which runs Rose Court, said the company had worked alongside public health teams throughout the investigation. She said: “The health and well-being of residents is our priority. We are pleased that this gentleman is making a good recovery and look forward to his return to Rose Court care home.”

Legionnaire’s disease is contracted by inhaling droplets of moisture contaminated with the Legionella bacteria. It cannot spread from person to person. Symptoms are similar to flu.

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