Πρόσφατες επιδημίες

Overview

Summary

As of 26 February 2025, a total of 37 cases of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) have been identified as part of the outbreak by the local public health authorities in the state of Vorarlberg in Western Austria. The most recent case was a person who developed symptoms on 26 February 2025. No Travel-Associated Legionnaires’ Disease (TALD) or other travel-related cases have been reported to ECDC associated with the outbreak.

An outbreak investigation has identified that the likely source of this outbreak is a cooling tower. More than 300 water samples have been collected from sampling sites, including private residences, workplaces, cooling towers and industrial sites in the state, and tested for Legionella pneumophila. Necessary measures have been implemented at sites that tested positive in environmental sampling.

So far, clinical isolates have been recovered from six patient samples and they share the same genomic profile.

Background

Community outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease are reported annually by countries across the EU/EEA.

Legionnaires’ disease is caused by inhaling Legionella bacteria present in an aerosolised environmental source, involving water or soil. People aged over 50 years are more at risk of developing Legionnaires’ disease than younger people, as are those who are immunocompromised or have underlying illness.

ECDC assessment

The likely source of this outbreak is a cooling tower and measures have been implemented. Therefore, any remaining risk for developing Legionnaires’ disease associated with this outbreak (considering the incubation period) has been significantly reduced and is limited to persons visiting or residing in this area.

Actions

ECDC is in contact with Austria through the European Legionnaires’ disease surveillance network (ELDSNet).

Last time this event was included in the Weekly CDTR: 21 February 2025