DOCTORS in the Keighley area have been placed on alert to look out for victims of Legionnaires' disease, the Keighley News can reveal.

Letters have been sent to all GP practices warning of the illness, which has been contracted by two local men.

The victims -- whose names have not been released -- were both admitted to Airedale Hospital. One has since been discharged and other was said yesterday to be in a stable condition. They fell ill after a visit to Barrow-in-Furness, where an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease has so far claimed one life and left over 100 others ill.

An Airedale Hospital spokesman said: "We can confirm that we had two patients treated for the disease.

"Both are men who have recently visited the Barrow area. The NHS trust would wish to emphasise it is not contagious and other patients at the hospital are not at risk of contracting it."

GPs have been formally notified by the Department of Health of the outbreak and have been warned to look out for people with possible symptoms -- which include respiratory problems, fever, a dry cough and headaches.

Most of the victims are from Barrow, but the two Airedale patients were among several people who had contracted the disease after visiting the Cumbrian town last month. Other cases have been identified as far afield as Newcastle.

Dr Sheila Webb, Airedale's director of public health, said: "All GPs have been informed of the outbreak and have been given details of relevant contacts, should they need them.

"The procedure is standard practice in a situation like this, to heighten awareness."

Furness General Hospital, in Barrow-in-Furness, is continuing to see extremely high levels of activity associated with the outbreak.

Ian Cumming, chief executive of the Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "The amount of additional patient care that we are undertaking in connection with this outbreak is equivalent to a major incident. Clinical staff have been loaned to us from Manchester Royal Infirmary, Trafford Health Care Trust and Wigan and Leigh Hospitals Trust."

Legionnaires' disease is a dangerous form of pneumonia which breeds in warm, stagnant water.

A faulty air-conditioning unit at a Barrow arts centre is believed to be behind the outbreak.