Legionnaire's Disease Claims Five Lives in Portugal

The World Health Organization(WHO) has warned on Tuesday that the outbreak of Legionnaire's disease in Portugal constitutes a "major public health emergency." In less than a week, the deadly disease claimed five lives.

The UN health agency said Portugal had notified it of a "large outbreak" of Legionnaire's disease in the Vila Franca de Xira suburb of Lisbon, voicing concern about the public health implications.

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.

The disease is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person, but can multiply in water and air conditioning systems, including humidifiers, whirlpools and spas.

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

The Portuguese government said the outbreak was very likely caused by bacteria found in the refrigeration system of a fertilizer factory in Vila Franca de Xira, located about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from Lisbon.

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Waterborne diseases are communicable diseases caused by diseases causing microorganisms in contaminated water. It is more prevalent during floods and in tsunami affected areas.

Environment Minister Jorge Moreira da Silva said the Adubos factory was also being tested to see if there was negligence in maintenance and if any "environmental crime" had been committed.

He said the outbreak was the third biggest in the history of the disease.

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The first 17 Portuguese cases were identified late last Thursday, and since then a full 233 cases have been reported, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva, adding that most of those infected were aged between 50 and 60.

Thirty-eight people are in intensive care and five have died, most of them with pre-existing medical conditions.

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"This is the biggest Legionnaire's disease in Portugal and is considered a major public health emergency," Lindmeier said, describing the outbreak as "unusual and unexpected."

The source of the outbreak has yet to be identified, but he said that with such a large outbreak, it was unlikely that the infection had originated in a single household.

As a precaution, cooling towers in the area have been closed for disinfection, he said.

"The municipal water has now been checked and found to be safe," he said, adding: "No risk has been detected from drinking water in the affected areas."

The disease was discovered in the United States in 1976 during a convention of the American Legion, a military veterans group, at which 29 people died.

Source-AFP