Number of deaths in Podkarpackie Legionella outbreak rises to seven
The number of deaths linked to an outbreak of Legionella pneumophila in the south-eastern city of Rzeszow has risen to seven, the town’s health authorities said on Friday.
The number of deaths linked to an outbreak of Legionella pneumophila in the south-eastern city of Rzeszow has risen to seven, the town’s health authorities said on Friday.
Health inspectors have been battling to find the source of the bacterium, which can cause Legionnaires disease, a sometimes lethal form of pneumonia.
Tests have been carried out on the town’s municipal water supply system, and the results are due back on Monday.
"There are now seven recorded deaths of people with confirmed Legionella pneumophila infection and co-occurring conditions,” the Rzeszow health inspectorate said in a statement. “The deaths concern four men and three women, aged 64-95 years. Six people were Rzeszow residents, and one person was from the Rzeszow region."
According to PAP, one of the latest victims was a 94-year-old woman who died at night in the Rzeszow City Hospital.
"The woman was hospitalised in the Clinical Cardiology Department at the Internal Diseases Sub-department and had other health issues," hospital director Grzegorz Materna told PAP on Friday morning.
The health inspectorate also said that on Friday that Legionella has now been confirmed in 113 patients hospitalised in Rzeszow, the Rzeszow region and neighbouring towns.
"Thirty-seven new confirmed test results for Legionella pneumophila concern patients previously hospitalised in hospitals in the Podkarpackie province," the inspectorate said.
Although dangerous, Legionella pneumophila cannot be passed person to person. (PAP)
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