Renewed Legionnaire Alert in Berlin

Legionella detected again in Berlin

09/28/2013

Once again legionella make headlines. In a Berlin residential complex it was found that the drinking water was contaminated with Legionella. Residents were no longer allowed to take a shower and were worried.

Significantly more than allowed
After Warstein's legionella hit the headlines in recent weeks, a case has now hit the Prenzlauer Berg district of Berlin. Legionella were found to be above the permitted level in a housing complex in drinking water. The increased values ​​of the bacteria were determined on the basis of the new Drinking Water Ordinance, which obliges caretakers or owners of larger housing units to have water tested for Legionella. In the condominium were up to 16,300 „colony-forming units“ (CFU) per 100 milliliters of water. According to the German Drinking Water Ordinance, 100 cfu are allowed. A possible health risk is assumed starting from 10,000 KBE per 100 milliliters.

Thousands of buildings in the past affected
In the capital there have been occasions in recent years, occasions for a Legionella warning, such as in the shower area of ​​the football professionals of Hertha BSC (2010), in the city bath Lankwitz (2010) or in the Klinikum Westend (2009). According to the association of Berlin-Brandenburg housing companies, in the past about 115,000 buildings in Berlin and 100,000 buildings in Brandenburg were affected. Dr. Christina Rhede, Head of the Department of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine at the Health Department Pankow, said: „Legionella generally occur in drinking water and only become a danger at elevated concentrations.“

Danger from stagnant water
The main causes of a sudden Legionella explosion are stagnant water in pipes due to low water consumption and permanent water temperatures between 25 and 55 degrees. The bacteria die off at 55 degrees. When showering, the germs can enter human tissue. „They are in the finest water droplets, which are inhaled through the air“, so Dr. Rhede. Carriers are also air conditioners or whirlpools.

Contaminated water is drinkable
Bacteria can become lodged in the mucous membranes like inhaled influenza and enter the lungs. Those affected may experience fever, cough, headache, respiratory distress and even pneumonia. However, there is no risk of legionellosis when drinking Legionella contaminated water. For residents in Prenzlauer Berg, the danger seems to be averted by the use of special filters in showers and cleaning measures. (Ad)