Legionella infection wave Cause not clarified

Cause of Legionella epidemic still unclear

29/12/2013

In the largest German legionella infection wave in late summer this year, two people died and over 160 fell ill. The cause of the mass illness in Warstein, Germany, is still unclear.

So far the largest legionella infection wave in Germany
In August and September of this year, two people in Warstein, Germany, died from legionella-induced pneumonia, and more than 160 people had become infected with the bacteria. Well, more than a quarter of a year after Germany's largest wave of Legionella's disease, the cause is still unclear. Although the bacteria, which can become dangerous when inhaled in tiny water droplets, have been detected in sewage treatment plants, in a river and in an industrial refrigeration plant. But the experts still do not know where the Legionella first appeared. However, they know how the disease had spread.

Doctors quickly got the right suspicion
Fortunately, the doctors at the city hospital quickly gave the right suspicion and therefore the right medication. As a result, relatively few people died compared to other legionella outbreaks. The industrial refrigeration plant was quickly suspected of spreading the pathogens and was shut down. But after that it took two more weeks because of the incubation period, until the new diseases subsided. At present, it only seems clear that no one is responsible, either intentionally or negligently, for causing and spreading the pathogens. In its investigation, the prosecutor Arnsberg has so far found no evidence that anyone can be held criminally responsible.

Always legionella in the water
In our water are always Legionella. This is not a problem as long as the bacteria do not find suitable conditions, such as warm temperatures, to multiply. In Germany, there are different rules to prevent Legionella infestation. Bacteria can become lodged in the mucous membranes like inhaled influenza and enter the lungs. Patients may experience fever, cough, headache, shortness of breath or pneumonia. However, there is no risk of legionellosis when drinking Legionella contaminated water.

Image of the city sustainably damaged
Although the wave of illness even resulted in a travel warning for Warstein, the inhabitants remained relaxed. But now they would want to hear nothing more, said Warstein Mayor Manfred Gödde. The city would have harmed the Legionella image moderately sustainable. „People still regret everywhere“, so Gödde. However, he now benefits from it as well: „If I have a request, the doors are open. Everyone wants to help us get back to the front.“ The economic damage is enormous, the mayor estimates it to tens of millions, due to defaults in various areas such as shops, tourism or industry. One can not calculate the loss but exactly. „One does not know how many shoes a shop would have sold or how many sausages would have gone over the counter at the snack bar“, so Gödde.

Significant losses
In September, the international Montgolfiade, Europe's largest balloonist festival with more than 100,000 expected visitors was canceled as a precaution. Even at the Warsteiner brewery, there were significant losses. Thus, the sale had decreased significantly after Legionella had been detected in the brewery clarifier. The business has now recovered, but the company has not disclosed any further details about the current business or losses. As the brewery announced, the company assumes that the bacteria did not originate in its own wastewater treatment plant, but that the company itself was one of the many victims.

Improved regulations for cooling systems
Experts have gained important insights from the wave of illness in Warstein, even though it is not yet clear where the dangerous bacteria had their first breeding ground. „So far, we have not had a clear view of the treatment plants“, according to the water expert Martin Exner from the Bonn Hygiene Institute. In addition, now finally clearly improved rules for the maintenance and registration of industrial recooling systems on the way. „These plants are involved at least in the distribution of bacteria“, Exner explained. After the legionella outbreak in Warstein, elevated levels had also been measured in other treatment plants. According to Exner, the partially explosive growth of bacteria could have been related to temperatures and organic residues in the sewage. „These seem to be factors that favor that. You have to keep that in mind“, so the expert.

Expert Commission in the coming year
The Ministry of the Environment in Dusseldorf intends to convene an expert commission next year, which will once again deal with the Legionella outbreak in Warstein. Then similar incidents in Germany and Europe will be worked up in order to better prevent such disease waves in the future. Exner, who has been calling for better regulations for years, welcomes the effort: „But until the recognition of a health problem and the complete work-up and a legal regulation, experience always leads to at least 20 years.“ (Ad)