Portugal Legionnaires' disease outbreak kills five

Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include high fever, muscle pain and persistent cough

An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease has killed five people and infected more than 230 others in Portugal, the authorities have said.

Most of the cases have been in Vila Franca de Xira, a town about 25 km (16 miles) north-east of Lisbon.
Thirty-eight people are being treated in intensive care, officials say.
Legionnaires' disease is a pneumonia-like lung infection caused by the legionella bacteria and those already in poor health are most at risk.
The source of the outbreak is yet to be found. Local media report that the bacteria has been discovered in a cooling tower in Vila Franca de Xira, but it is thought there may be other sources.
Intensive care facilities in many of the capital's hospitals were close to the limit because of the outbreak, Portuguese media reported.
The Portuguese president, Anibal Cavaco Silva, has expressed his condolences to the victims. He said the public should trust the health authorities to deal with the outbreak.
Legionnaires' disease is caught by inhaling infected water. The bacteria can grow in cooling towers, air conditioning and other artificial water supply systems.
It was first identified in the US in the 1970s following an outbreak at a hotel hosting a veteran organisation known as the American Legion.