Legionella discovered in Warstein cause

The crisis management of the district Soest is in the criticism

09/05/2013

The Warsteiner population is insecure and feels badly informed. The communication of the circle was suboptimal. The Warsteiner population feels particularly unsettled because of the travel warning that followed several days after the cancellation of the Warsteiner Montgolfiade. What was communicated by the district when? Now begins the search for any errors in crisis management. This certainly makes sense in order to be able to proceed more effectively with future disease waves.

A short sequence of events
The authorities informed for the first time on Monday, August 19, the population about the wave of illness in Warstein. The district Soest was already informed a week earlier about the disease series. At a press conference was informed that there are already 63 cases of unusual pneumonia, in the episode two sufferers have already died. As a trigger bacteria were identified.

The head of the health department, Dr. med. Frank Renken, however, kept himself covered because the bacteria must be detected in ten percent of patients. At this time, the hospital is already treating patients with the appropriate antibiotics against Legionella, which has also been announced as the cause of the diseases by the authorities. By this time, four positive legionella findings had been diagnosed. The number of patients was 64.

From then on, health supervisors were busy searching for the possible source. The wave of illness continued to rise to 86 people. As a transmission route, the experts excluded the tap or drinking water. A crisis team was convened and on the same day a telephone hotline was set up, to which worried citizens could turn with questions. The district issued the warning to avoid public buildings with air conditioners.

Employees from the district health office in Soest, the state health center in Münster and a team of experts from the University Hospital Bonn continued to search feverishly for the source in Warstein. The city of Warstein even went so far as to search for the air conditioning system in question, threatening all owners of large recooling systems with a fine of 20,000 euros if this was not reported.

One day later, the first death was reported. However, the authorities did not want to announce a connection with the legionella before an autopsy. The number of sufferers continued to rise inexorably. Meanwhile, 111 cases were registered. A short time later, the rehearsal of a company based in Warstein turns out to be positive. As a precautionary measure, the 23rd Montgolfiade, a major event, was not canceled on the recommendation of the district health office and the number of cases increased to 116. Until then, these instructions were communicated in a question and answer catalog on the homepage and on the citizen telephone.

The source was determined
The source for the Legionella outbreak in Warstein, Germany has been found. The „national reference laboratory Legionella“ The Dresden University of Technology has unequivocally demonstrated 19 types of Legionella by means of extensive investigations. These are identical to the pathogens of the disease with the Legionella. For the experts, a recooling plant of a Warsteiner company is responsible.

All-clear can not be given
The district administration points out that the examinations and research are continued on site and samples are taken. Because the exact transmission route could not be identified yet. The travel warning for Warstein remains for the time being. The 27,000 Warsteiners are also advised not to be outside. (Fr)