Legionella travel warning for Warstein

Legionella: Travelers should avoid Warstein due to the wave of infection

31.08.2013

The district of Soest announced that it should refrain from traveling to the Warstein area. The reason for this unusual request is the Legionella wave of infection that has been haunting the area for several weeks.

Travel should be avoided
Since August 10, there was a Legionella infection wave in Warstein, Germany. On Friday afternoon, the district of Soest announced: „Travel to the area of ​​the city of Warstein, which does not necessarily have to be carried out, should be avoided. "This advice was made in consultation with the Landeszentrum Gesundheit NRW and the Institute for Hygiene and Public Health of the University of Bonn Free to stop: „Staying indoors increases the risk of infection.“

Citizen telephone set up
The district Soest give worried citizens by phone on 02921/303030 answers to the current Legionella diseases. The citizens telephone is also on this Saturday (31.08.2013) from 8 to 18 o'clock as well as on Sunday (01.09.2013) from 8 to 16 o'clock attainable.

No all-clear
To date, a total of 141 people were suffering from pneumonia, probably triggered by Legionella bacteria that were released from a cooling system in the air. However, it is still unclear whether the suspected re-cooling system is really the source of the outbreak. A final result is not expected until the middle of next week, said the national reference center of the TU Dresden, according to the circle of Soest. Therefore, the health authority of the district administration stressed that there could still be no all-clear. The suspicious air conditioner had been turned off and should not resume operation until after a thorough disinfection bacteria are no longer found.

To be reckoned with further cases
So far, two men have already died from the infection and another patient is currently in intensive care. Due to the incubation period, the authorities still expect further cases. Patients suffer from pneumonia, accompanied by malaise, headache and body aches, fever and cough, or even diarrhea. If it comes to such symptoms, affected people from the region should consult a doctor. (Ad)

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