LISBON, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- A fifth person died from the Legionella outbreak in Lisbon on Monday, as the Ministry of Health made a public apology.
The Directorate-General of Health (DGS) announced that a 76-year-old woman had died from the outbreak at the Sao Francisco Xavier hospital.
Health Minister Adalberto Campos Fernandes responded to the news by apologizing "on behalf of the hospital, the companies responsible for vigilance and the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Regional Health Administration."
The outbreak at the hospital was first detected on Oct. 31. The outbreak has been traced to the hospital's water system, but the exact source has yet to be determined.
Legionella is a bacteria that lives in water. It is best known as the bacteria that causes Legionnaire's disease, a serious form of pneumonia.
The bacteria's maximum incubation time is understood to be 10 days.
The number of infected has risen to 48, the DGS also confirmed, but no new cases had been expected.
Further deaths cannot be ruled out. The majority of those diagnosed are elderly, and 6 are in intensive care.
