Legionella pneumophila bacterium, the causative agent of Legionnaire’s disease (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Three people have died after becoming infected with Legionnaires’ disease during an outbreak in northern Italy.
At least 49 cases have been recorded in the Lombardy region as of August 8, the European Center of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said.
Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially very serious lung infection which people can catch if they breathe in tiny droplets of water which contain bacteria that causes the illness.
The cases so far have been located in the Corsico and Buccinasco municipalities, southwest of Milan. The ECDC said the risk of infection is confined to those living in or visiting those regions.
The outbreak began on April 11, while symptoms in the most recent case started experiencing symptoms on July 28.
Those infected are aged between 26 and 94 and include 28 women and 21 men.
Most – 45 of the 49 – had some kind of underlying health condition which placed them at higher risk of serious illness.
Early signs of the rare Legionnaires’ disease include ‘flu-like’ symptoms, such as a dry cough and fever, which can develop into pneumonia (Picture: Getty Images)
At least 49 cases have been recorded in the Lombardy region as of August 8, according to the European Center of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) (Picture: AFP via Getty)
People aged over 50, smokers and those with chronic lung conditions or who are immuno-compromised are at higher risk of developing the disease.
It is usually caught from things such as air conditioning systems, hot tubs and humidifiers, in places like offices, hotels or hospitals where the bacteria have got into the water supply.
Early signs of the rare Legionnaires’ disease include ‘flu-like’ symptoms, such as a dry cough and fever, which can develop into pneumonia.
Around 90% of people exposed to legionella bacteria do not experience symptoms.
But up to 15% of those who do become ill can suffer from severe disease.
Officials have been collecting water samples from several sections of Milan’s supply system, the ECDC said in a report.
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