British holidaymakers are being cautioned about an outbreak of a deadly disease which has claimed four lives. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Foreign Office-backed Travel Health Pro website have highlighted the problem.
Yesterday (August 23), a fresh update from the ECDC confirmed the presence of Legionnaires’ disease in several areas within Milan’s metropolitan boundary, notably Corsico and Buccinasco, in the Lombardy Region. Currently, a dozen individuals are under hospital treatment.
As of August 19, statistics show there have been 53 confirmed infections and four fatalities. Officials are currently involved in a crackdown to halt further spread of the disease and prevent new occurrences. Authorities said people in the area could be at risk especially because the source is as yet unidentified.
The ECDC has recorded cases spanning from the ages of 26 to 94, stating that all four deceased were above 70 years and experienced additional health complications.
At present, 12 patients are receiving hospital attention, whilst 37 admitted have now returned home; and officials report four mortalities tied to the outbreak.
A comprehensive probe is underway to pinpoint the origin, with the ECDC revealing that “Epidemiological, microbiological, and environmental investigations continue. Water samples have been collected from several sampling sites of the municipal water supply system, both from the private residence water systems of patients/control cases and from cooling towers.”
“The collection of respiratory samples from patients and typing of isolated Legionella strains is ongoing to assist determination of the outbreak source. Public health activities continue to be implemented to prevent transmission and emergence of new cases, including a chemical disinfection with chlorine of the municipal water supply system and of private residences.”
Legionnaires’ disease, which results from inhaling water vapour containing Legionella bacteria, poses a higher risk to those over 50 years old, immunocompromised individuals, or those with underlying illnesses.
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