Insert Name of Area Public Health
Team
DATE
Legionella Infections in LOCATION- Message number 1
A
number of cases of Legionnaires' disease in LOCATION
has been reported to the local public health
team.
Name of local public health team is
carrying out detailed investigations into all N cases, to try
and identify the source of the infection. [ Insert general descriptive summary of current
cases. For example: One of the patients sadly died after being admitted already ill with
Legionella infection to the Hospital Name. Of the
others being treated in the Hospital Name, one has recovered
sufficiently to be allowed home. The remaining original cases are all
improving.]
Name of Medic , Position , said:
[ Insert detailed relevant contextual
information quoting expert in discipline/locality. For example : " We know the
deceased patient had a different strain of Legionella to the others and that the latest
case had undergone day surgery in the Hospital Name but this
was at the extreme end of the possible incubation period, making this unlikely as the source of
infection.
"There
remains no evidence that the cases are linked and we are still working closely with our
partners in the health service to try and identify the source of these infections. This
includes investigating all places each person visited in the two weeks before they fell
ill."]
"The
symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include a 'flu-like' illness with muscle aches, tiredness,
headaches, dry cough and fever, leading on to pneumonia. Sometimes diarrhoea occurs and
patients may suffer from confusion.
Legionnaires' disease is an uncommon form of pneumonia caused by a type of
bacterium that is found in the environment. It causes disease when it is spread through the air
as a spray or vapour from a water source and droplets are inhaled. It cannot be spread from
one person to another.[Patients who experience symptoms should seek medical attention
promptly, so that appropriate and effective antibiotic treatment can be given. People feeling
unwell who have visited LOCATION in the past couple of weeks
are encouraged to visit their local health provider and seek prompt and effective
treatment.]
Notes
to Editors:
1.
Legionnaires' disease is pneumonia, caused by the bacterium Legionella
pneumophila. The majority of cases are reported as single (isolated) cases but outbreaks
can occur. Some 5000 cases are reported annually across the EU and EEA/EFTA countries. All ages
can be affected, but it mainly affects people over 50 years of age, and generally men more than
women and more often, smokers.
2.
The incubation period ranges from 2 to 14 days. In rare cases some people may develop
symptoms as late as three weeks after exposure. It cannot be passed from person to person.
Outbreaks may have a source of infection in common but most cases are 'sporadic' i.e.
with no links to a common source or strain of the Legionella
bacteria.
3. The
symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include a 'flu-like' illness with muscle aches, tiredness,
headaches, dry cough and fever, leading on to pneumonia. Sometimes diarrhoea occurs and
patients may suffer from confusion. It can be treated with antibiotics. People should be
advised to seek medical attention if they have a respiratory illness suggestive of
Legionnaires' disease.
4.
Legionella bacteria are widely distributed in the environment. Systems linked to
outbreaks have included: cooling towers; evaporative condensers; hot and cold water systems;
spa pools; humidifiers in food display cabinets; effluent treatment plants; air
scrubbers.
Media
enquiries to:
Name of Communications team or
person
Tel:
Email:
Website: