A borough outbreak of Legionnaire's disease has been contained after five confirmed cases including the death of a Dudley woman.

Patricia Ashton, aged 51 of Newland Grove, died of Legionella Pneumophila at Russells Hall Hospital last Tuesday (August 7).

Her inquest was opened and adjourned by Black Country Coroner Robin Balmain in West Bromwich last Friday (August 10).

A further group of three patients who have also contracted the disease are recovering at home, a fourth is recovering in hospital. No further cases have been reported.

Public and environmental health experts from Dudley Primary Care Trust (PCT), the Health Protection Agency (HPA), Dudley Council and the Health and Safety Executive are investigating the outbreak.

Public health chiefs claim the number of cases over a short period of time mean it has to be classed as an outbreak.

Dr Dan Killalea, consultant in the Black Country with the Health Protection Agency, said: "All likely sources in the area have been identified and actions taken to reduce further risk through the prompt action of the Health and Safety Executive and the local authority."

Sites with cooling towers near to the reported cases have been checked, with bosses urged to disinfect their systems or, in some cases, the towers have been taken out of service.

Valerie Little, Director of Public Health for Dudley, said: "We are taking appropriate precautions to ensure that the spread of the disease is contained.

"There is no possibility of spread from person to person and I would ask anyone who thinks that they have any of the symptoms to contact their GP or NHS Direct."

Legionnaire's disease is caused by a germ called Legionella pneumophila. It can lead to human illness in some cases if sources including wet air conditioning systems are not well looked after.

It is an uncommon form of pneumonia and mostly commonly affects people aged over 50 years.

Early symptoms include a flu-like' illness with muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever which can lead to pneumonia.