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British Hospital Water Supply Linked to Two Deaths and 38 Infections
Confirmed
In Short: A renowned British hospital faced a seven-year bacterial outbreak in its water supply, linked to two deaths and 38 infections.
A renowned British hospital has been grappling with a serious bacterial outbreak in its water supply for seven years, according to a coroner's inquest and a new scientific paper. The outbreak was linked to two deaths and 38 other cases of infection.
In 2025, the BBC reported that two women died after developing infections that likely originated from the water supply of the hospital where they were receiving lung transplants.
Environmental sampling revealed the outbreak stemmed from the new building's water system. The hospital had installed point-of-use filters on taps, which were found to be effective in removing mycobacterium from the filtered water.
However, patients were still at risk from drain traps and toilets. Solicitor Jatinder Paul noted that patients were admitted to the hospital in the hope of a better life, but the events that unfolded have been devastating for them and their families.
Dr. Smith, the hospital's medical director, expressed condolences to those affected and acknowledged that the hospital followed national guidance for water safety testing and management.
The new paper, led by members of the UK Health Security Agency and the Royal Papworth Hospital's medical director, offers new detail into the outbreak. Enhanced flushing was credited with no further cases since June 2025.
"People can acquire an infection and get symptoms straight away, some may not get symptoms until many years later, and some may never get any symptoms at all," said a hospital official.
The hospital's medical director stated, "As has been acknowledged throughout this journey, we followed national guidance in place at the time for the testing and management of water safety and took immediate and robust action once the situation was identified."
What's confirmed
- A renowned British hospital has been grappling with a serious bacterial outbreak in its water supply for seven years, according to a coroner's inquest and a new scientific paper. The outbreak was linked to two deaths and 38 other cases of infection.
- In 2025, the BBC reported that two women died after developing infections that likely originated from the water supply of the hospital where they were receiving lung transplants.
- Environmental sampling revealed the outbreak stemmed from the new building's water system. The hospital had installed point-of-use filters on taps, which were found to be effective in removing mycobacterium from the filtered water.
- However, patients were still at risk from drain traps and toilets. Solicitor Jatinder Paul noted that patients were admitted to the hospital in the hope of a better life, but the events that unfolded have been devastating for them and their families.
- Dr. Smith, the hospital's medical director, expressed condolences to those affected and acknowledged that the hospital followed national guidance for water safety testing and management.
- The new paper, led by members of the UK Health Security Agency and the Royal Papworth Hospital's medical director, offers new detail into the outbreak. Enhanced flushing was credited with no further cases since June 2025.
- "People can acquire an infection and get symptoms straight away, some may not get symptoms until many years later, and some may never get any symptoms at all," said a hospital official.
What's still developing
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