News
Outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease in Venice
EWGLINET (The European Working Group for Legionella Infection) has alerted the HPSC of an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in Venice (Italy). As of September 11th 2006, 15 cases of community-acquired legionnaires’ disease associated with the centre of Venice have been confirmed. No deaths have occurred to date. The date of onset of symptoms ranges from July 20th to August 31st 2006.
Environmental investigations are in progress to identify the source of this outbreak.
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. The early symptoms include a flu-like illness with muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever. Some people develop diarrhoea or may become confused. Deaths occur in 10-15% of otherwise healthy individuals and may be higher in some groups of patients. The incubation period ranges from 2 to 10 days but is usually 5 to 6 days. In rare cases people may develop symptoms as late as three weeks after exposure.
It is advisable that any persons who visited Venice from early August 2006 onwards who develop symptoms similar to those outlined above would seek medical advice and visit their GP. In particular they should inform him/her that they have visited Venice and that an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease has occurred there.
Clinicians should consider the possibility of legionnaires' disease in all patients with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia and in those developing symptoms as outlined above within 14 days of returning from an area where legionnaires’ disease has been reported.
More information on legionellosis is available at http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/Respiratory/Legionellosis
Outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease in Paris
EWGLINET (The European Working Group for Legionella Infection) has alerted the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) of an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in Paris.
As of September 8th 2006, 15 cases of community-acquired legionnaires’ disease have been confirmed. One patient has died. The date of onset of symptoms ranges from 28th July to 31st August 2006. These cases have all occurred in two southern districts of Paris (near Austerlitz and Lyon railway stations).
Environmental investigations are currently in progress to identify the potential source of the outbreak. At present, two cooling towers are suspected.
Legionnaires’ Disease
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. The early symptoms include a 'flu-like illness with muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever. Some people develop diarrhoea or may become confused. Deaths occur in 10-15% of otherwise healthy individuals and may be higher in some groups of patients. The incubation period ranges from 2 to 10 days but is usually 5 to 6 days. In rare cases people may develop symptoms as late as three weeks after exposure.
It is advisable that any persons who visited Paris from 18th July 2006 onwards who develop symptoms similar to those outlined above would seek medical advice and visit their GP. In particular they should inform him/her that they have visited Paris and that an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease has occurred there.
Clinicians should consider the possibility of legionnaires' disease in all patients with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia and in those developing symptoms as outlined above within 14 days of returning from an area where legionnaires’ disease has been reported.
More information on legionellosis is available at http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/Respiratory/Legionellosis/
Outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease in Amsterdam
EWGLINET (The European Working Group for Legionella Infection) has alerted the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) of an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Amsterdam.
As of July 14th 2006, 24 cases of legionnaires’ disease have been confirmed and one patient has died. The date of onset of symptoms ranges from 27th June to 9th July 2006.
All the cases either live or work in Amsterdam city centre and active case finding is underway. No cases have been reported so far from other countries. The most likely source of the outbreak is believed to be a cooling tower located in the central-eastern part of the city.
Legionnaires’ Disease
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by legionella bacteria. The early symptoms include a 'flu-like' illness with muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever. Some people develop diarrhoea or may become confused. Deaths occur in 10-15% of otherwise healthy individuals and may be higher in some groups of patients. The incubation period ranges from 2 to 10 days but is usually 5 to 6 days. In rare cases some people may develop symptoms as late as three weeks after exposure.
It is advisable that any persons who visited Amsterdam from 8th June 2006 onwards who develop symptoms similar to those outlined above would seek medical advice and visit their GP. In particular they should inform him/her that they have visited Amsterdam and that an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease has occurred there.
Clinicians should consider the possibility of legionnaires' disease in all patients with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia and in those developing symptoms as outlined above within 14 days of returning from an area where legionnaires’ disease has been reported.
Further information on the outbreak (in Dutch) is available at http://www.rivm.nl/
More information on Legionellosis is available at http://www.ndsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/Respiratory/Legionellosis/
Outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease in Pamplona, Spain
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has been alerted by EWGLINET (The European Working Group for Legionella Infection) of an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in the Spanish City of Pamplona, notified by the Health Authorities in Navarre. Pamplona is located in Northern Spain in the western part of the Pyrenees.
As of June 6th 2006, 122 cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been confirmed and over half of these cases have been hospitalised. No deaths have been reported to date and no cases have been reported in tourists or other non-Spanish citizens. Those affected range between 21 and 97 years. Health Authorities in Navarre were first alerted to the outbreak on June 1st.
Investigation of the outbreak revealed that most early cases were associated with a particular area of the city and legionella bacteria was found in four cooling towers in this area. These cooling towers were shut down on June 5th thereby removing the risk to the public of exposure to legionella bacteria.
Legionnaires’ Disease
Legionnaires’ Disease is a bacterial disease, which can cause pneumonia. The early symptoms include a 'flu-like' illness with muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever. Sometimes diarrhoea occurs and confusion may develop. Deaths occur in 10-15% of otherwise healthy individuals and may be higher in some groups of patients. The incubation period ranges from 2 to 10 days but is usually 5 to 6 days. In rare cases some people may develop symptoms as late as three weeks after exposure.
It is advisable that any persons who visited Pamplona from mid May 2006 onwards who develop symptoms similar to those outlined above would seek medical advice and visit their GP. In particular they should inform him/her that they have visited Pamplona and that an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease has occurred there.
More information on Legionellosis is available at http://www.ndsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/Respiratory/Legionellosis/