EXCLUSIVE: Warwick IBM staff sent home over Legionnaires concerns

Traces of Legionella bacteria which can lead to Legionnaires disease have been found in the water, although it is not believed that the levels are dangerous at this point.

Most staff were sent home on Thursday morning, with only spine staff kept on, after the problem was discovered on Wednesday evening, but were left in the dark as to what the problem was.

One staff member who wished to remain anonymous said: “We’ve been sent home today. No one seems to know why or how long for but there are rumours of Legionnaire’s disease.

“People are really really concerned, it can be a killer.”

Salesh Sarda of Warwick District Council Environmental Health said: “We were contacted yesterday by the manager for the site employed by Opus 40 who own the site saying that there was a potential contamination of the water.

“Traces of Legionella had been found in the ring main. It is very common to find some trace of Legionella in any water supply.

“What does need to be done is for the water facilities to be in place whereby that system is being treated so the levels do not increase to a worrying level.

“As far as I’m aware no dangerous levels have been found and the company is doing everything it needs to do to get the site back up and running.

“It is all just precautionary at the moment.

“We have got a meeting tomorrow with the site manager and are still waiting on further test results which will confirm what the levels are.

“As far as I’m aware nobody has fallen ill or had any symptoms or anything.”

Stay with the Warwick Courier for any developments.