Anyone who visited the Landmark Hotel in Dundee recently and has been unwell with a flu-like illness is being asked to contact their doctor or NHS24.
The advice from NHS Tayside comes as the health authority confirmed it had carried out tests for legionella bacteria and other organisms in a bid to find the cause for a number of illnesses among staff.
At this stage there have been no positive results for legionella but an NHS Tayside spokeswoman said the investigation was ongoing and test results were awaited.
She declined to say whether any person had been tested for the bug, citing patient confidentiality. She did confirm environmental testing for legionella had taken place, in particular at the hotel’s spa pool.
The spokeswoman for the health authority declined to say how many people had been affected, again citing patient confidentiality, but insisted most of the people who had been unwell had only mild symptoms.
“We are still investigating most of the cases,” she said. “We are still testing, taking samples and doing further investigations in the environment.”
Dr Finn Romanes, consultant in public health medicine, said, “NHS Tayside’s health protection team and members of Dundee City Council’s environmental health department are investigating cases of flu-like illness at the Landmark Dundee.
“We have been working closely with the hotel since the investigation started late last week and all appropriate health and environmental testing is being carried out.
“The most likely cause of this type of illness is a respiratory virus such as influenza, but we are looking at a range of other possibilities. In particular, there is no evidence to date of Legionella infection.
“In most cases, this appears to be a short-lived illness that can be managed symptomatically at home.
“We would ask anyone who has visited the hotel recently, and who has been unwell with a flu-like illness, for example, high temperature, chills, cough, headache, shortness of breath, since March 11 to seek advice from their GP, or from NHS24.”
Richard Ellison, general manager of the Landmark Hotel, said, “We can confirm that the NHS is investigating the matter and we are working alongside them to assist in any way we can.
“The health of staff and guests is our utmost priority at all times.
“Staff who were unwell are now back to full health and have returned to work.”