A YORK man was fighting for his life in hospital today after being diagnosed with Legionnaire's disease.

Worshippers at Southlands Methodist Church, in York, are praying for Mike Harrison, a church member who is in intensive care at York Hospital.

Mr Harrison was admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties on Sunday morning, and was diagnosed with Legionnaire's disease - a bacterial disease that may cause pneumonia.

A York Hospital spokesman said today that Mr Harrison remained in intensive care where his condition was described as critical.

The congregation at his church was asked at its Sunday service to pray for Mr Harrison, who is one of the property stewards, and lives with his wife, Jean, off Scarcroft Road, in York.

Louise Coole, director of the North Yorkshire Health Protection Unit, said: "We can confirm that we have identified one isolated case of a patient with Legionnaire's Disease. This patient is currently being cared for at York Hospital. The health protection unit is looking into possible sources of infection."

She said: "We would like to reassure people that Legionnaire's disease does not spread from person to person, so there is no risk of contracting it in this way."

Mr and Mrs Harrison are both volunteers for the British Red Cross, and recently featured in the Evening Press when they unveiled spring blooms to the public at Sutton Park, in Sutton-on-the-Forest, as part of the charity's open gardens scheme.

The majority of Legionnaire's cases are reported as single cases, but outbreaks can occur.

People become infected when they breathe in air that contains Legionella bacteria which have been dispersed into the air in very fine droplets of water. If the bacteria get inhaled into the lungs, they can cause infection.

The bacteria live naturally in environmental water sources, but if they get into water systems in buildings they can cause a risk to humans through air conditioning systems or contaminated water systems, for example, those used for showers.

About 300 to 350 cases are reported each year in England.

Early symptons include a "flu-like" illness with muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever. These symptoms frequently lead on to pneumonia. The incubation period ranges from two to ten days, but is usually five to six days.

Updated: 10:07 Tuesday, May 17, 2005