The west Oxfordshire air base at RAF Brize Norton is confident it has dealt with an outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease.

Only one man has gone down with symptoms of the potentially fatal bug and over the weekend water systems in the accommodation block where he was living have been flushed.

Base spokesman Kate Zasada said today: "It is difficult to say we now have the all-clear.

"The incubation period is two to ten days and the fact that no one else has displayed any of the symptoms seems to indicate that this was an isolated case."

The man, who has not been named, had just left the RAF when he came down with the disease. He is said to be "fine and now recovering at home".

Over the weekend contractors isolated the area in the sergeants' mess accommodation block at the base and used super-chlorinated water to flush any bacteria from the pipes.

Ms Zasada said: "The actual area where the man was living was closed off.

"People are now back in there but we have given them instructions to run hot water through until they get into the shower."

Legionella bacteria were confirmed last Thursday on samples taken from the block on August 7. A previous routine check on July 16 had proved negative.

The airman had reported sick to a hospital on July 30 and was later diagnosed with the disease which is a rare but severe type of pneumonia.