by Three people have died and dozens have been infected after being diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease during an outbreak in Milan.
Health authorities are desperately trying to contain the spread amid fears that local water supplies have been contaminated.
Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia, and anyone is susceptible to infection. The risk increases with age, but some people are particularly at risk, including those over 45.
About 90 percent of people exposed to Legionella bacteria, which can grow and spread in built-in water systems such as cooling towers and swimming pools, do not show symptoms.
However, in up to 15 percent of those affected, the course of the disease can be severe and result in life-threatening complications.
According to the latest figures from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), at least 49 cases of the disease have been registered in the Lombardy region.
At least 49 cases of the disease have been registered in Lombardy
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The first registered case was registered on April 11.
All cases are between the ages of 26 and 94, with 28 women and 21 men affected.
The majority (45) had an underlying medical condition that put them at higher risk of severe disease.
According to the ECDC, about 12 of the 49 confirmed cases are still in hospital and three have died.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most common cause of illness is inhalation of mist containing Legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease.
The bacteria can become a health risk if they grow and spread in man-made water systems in buildings, such as:
- Shower heads and wash basin fittings
- Hot tubs
- Decorative fountains and water features
- Hot water tanks and heaters
- Large, complex sanitation systems
- Cooling towers
How the virus is spreading in Milan is still unclear, but authorities are examining cooling towers in the region and cleaning water systems with chlorine to stop transmission.
It usually happens in places like hotels, hospitals or offices where the bacteria have entered the water supply. Holidaymakers are therefore urged to leave the tap running before using it.
Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease include:
- A cough
- shortness of breath
- Chest pain or discomfort, especially when breathing or coughing
- A high temperature
- Flu-like symptoms
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
You have symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease such as:
- A cough that lasts three weeks or longer
- Bloody cough
- Chest pain that comes and goes or occurs when breathing or coughing
- shortness of breath
The NHS advises sharing where you have been in the last ten days, for example whether you have stayed in a hotel, spa or hospital.
If you are diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, you may need to go to the hospital, the health authority adds.
