Legionnaire's Disease: Lung Infection Kills Three More in Spain

Three more people have died from Legionnaire's disease in Catalonia in northeastern Spain, bringing to seven the death toll from the lung infection in the region in just over a week.

The three deaths took place in Ripollet, a town near Barcelona, Catalonia's health department said.

Legionnaires’ disease - Symptoms - Causes - Risk Factors - Diagnosis - Treatment
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by a type of bacteria. The infection is likely to spread when people inhale tiny water droplets containing the bacteria.

Two other people in the town have been diagnosed with the disease, including one who is in hospital.

Another four people have died from an outbreak of Legionnaire's in Sabadell, seven kilometres (six miles) from Ripollet, that was detected on September 5.

Catalan health authorities reported the first two deaths from the disease on September 16 and two other deaths two days later.

All four victims of the disease in Sabadell were elderly or suffering from underlying health conditions.

Health officials said they did not know if the cases of Legionnaire's in the two cities were linked or due to two separate outbreaks of the disease.

Respiratory Diseases - Diseases of the Human Respiratory System
Respiratory diseases affect any part of the respiratory system. Some of the lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can lead to respiratory failure.

Legionnaire's disease is a lung infection caused by the legionella bacteria. It is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person but can multiply in water and air conditioning systems.

The disease is usually caught by breathing in small droplets of contaminated water.

The Lungs
The lungs are our organs of respiration. It is within these, that exchange of gases takes place.

Large buildings, such as hotels, hospitals, museums and office blocks, are more vulnerable to legionella contamination because they have larger, more complex water supply systems in which the bacteria can quickly spread.

Source-AFP