A SEASIDE spa boasting salt caves among its treatments has been shut down after nine people were hospitalised in a suspected Legionnaire's Disease outbreak.

Fourteen people in total fell ill after visiting the spa and developing bacterial infections which can lead to full blown Legionella which can be fatal.

3 Nine people have been hospitalised after an outbreak of the potentially fatal Legionella infection Credit: Bournemouth News

The Healax Salt Caves and Spa in Kindon, Bournemouth, Dorset was today closed after the local authority stepped in.

A spokesman for Public Health England said that in conjunction with environmental health officers from Bournemouth Council and Public Health Dorset action had been taken to ensure that there was no further danger to the public.

Of the 14 people taken ill, nine had been treated in hospital and were responding well. It was revealed that almost 40 other people who visited the spa also reported symptoms of the Legionella infection but the presence of the bug had not been confirmed by subsequent laboratory testing.

Dr Fiona Neely, outbreak control team lead and consultant in health protection at PHE South West, was reported as saying: "We understand there will be concern among people who visited Healax Salt Caves and Spa, whether or not they have become ill, and we would like to reassure those affected that all immediate public health action has been taken.

"Thankfully, in all cases of illness that have been reported to PHE to date, those affected are now recovering from their illnesses."

She added that clients who were understood to have visited the spa between June 1st and the 18th, when health experts believe the risk of infection to have occurred, had been contacted by PHE with advice.

What is Legionnaires’ disease? Legionnaires' disease is a serious lung infection which is caused by Legionella bacteria. It is usually transmitted by inhaling small droplets of infected water but it can't be passed on from person to person. There can be small, harmless amounts of the bacteria in water sources like ponds and rivers. But if it gets into an environment where it can grow, such as an air conditioning system, it will multiply quickly. The initial symptoms are very similar to that of the flu. People are likely to suffer from: Headaches

Muscle pain

High temperatures

Tiredness

Chills But when the bacteria spreads to the individual's lungs the symptoms are more similar to that of pneumonia: Chest pains

A persistent cough

Shortness of breath It usually takes between six and seven days for the full-blown infection to kick in after infection.

The information had also been shared with local residents and businesses adjacent to the spa, on a precautionary basis.

One client, Paul Wetton, a 42-year-old project manager from Bournemouth, who visited the spa on June 16 with his wife, Angela, said: "The conditions in the spa were terrible and rather than improve our health we both developed chest infections and I became very ill.

"I should have known something was wrong when I saw it was next to an off-licence and a chippy. When you walked in there was this strong smell, it smelt of urine and damp. I'd never been in a salt spa before so I thought this must be what they smell like, as it is a sea water [hot tub].

"We only stayed in for half an hour then left, as it wasn't enjoyable."

The couple then spent around an hour in the lounge area before heading home.

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"The following night I got a fever and my breathing went bad, " said Mr Wetton.

"I ended up having two or three days off work and my wife had similar symptoms but not as bad."

Mr Wetton has since been given the all clear for Legionnaires' disease but diagnosed with Pontiac fever, which is a milder flu-like illness caused by Legionella bacteria.

3 Authorities moved in to close the spa Credit: Bournemouth News

3 The health spa offers salt water treatments Credit: Bournemouth News