Legionnaires' Disease: Are You at Risk?

Legionnaires' Disease: Are You at Risk?

AN outbreak of legionnaires’ disease that killed a British tourist and left several others ill has been traced to a hotel jacuzzi in Majorca, Spain.

Health chiefs investigating the outbreak in Palmanova, which neighbours party hotspot Magaluf, found that 26 of the 27 struck down by the disease were foreign tourists.

The outbreak claimed the life of a 70-year-old British man who died in a Palma hospital on the popular tourist island.

Regional health authority boss Maria Ramos said positive samples had been taken at the unnamed hotel where several of those who fell ill had been staying.

The hotel closed after its water supply was shut down, before news of the outbreak had become public.

The regional health authority said in a statement: “From October 4 to November 16 we were informed of 27 cases of legionnaires’ disease linked to a particular area of Palmanova.

“The people affected included 26 foreign tourists who had stayed in hotels in the resort, 20 of whom were from the UK.”

A spokesman added: “They have all recovered apart from the gentleman aged 70 who suffered different illnesses including diabetes and chronic leukaemia and coronary heart disease. He died in hospital on October 11.

“The investigation to determine the source of infection has concluded that it is an exterior jacuzzi tub in one of the hotels in the Palmanova area.”

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious lung infection caused by legionella bacteria.

It can be particularly serious and fatal in people with pre-existing health conditions.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.