James Debono Legionnaires’ disease – which is mostly associated with large-scale air-conditioning in hotels or public buildings – is now striking private homes at a greater frequency, resulting in fatalities for two Maltese families in 2007.
An all-time record of 19 cases of the disease were registered in 2007, a recently published annual report of the Infectious Disease Prevention Unit shows.
Whilst seven cases involved foreigners, 12 cases involved Maltese residents. Six cases involving foreigners occurred in hotels, while one case involved a male residing on a yacht. The 12 local cases were associated with infection from domestic water systems.
“This signified a peak in the number of cases associated with households during the past few years,” the report states.
Although each case was investigated, no common factor linking these cases was found. Neither was any definite conclusion reached as to why there was such an increase in local cases.
But the trend was not repeated in 2008, when only three cases of the disease were registered. So far, four cases of legionnaires’ disease were reported this year.
To avoid the risk of contracting this lethal disease, water tanks should be regularly inspected and insulated in order to keep water temperature from warming up.
Geysers should not be switched on and off in a way that cools the water down to temperatures where the microbe can thrive, but kept at a constant temperature above 60 degrees centigrade. Consumers are also advised not to buy water from bowsers not registered with the Health Department as private water suppliers.
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by bacteria, usually contracted by inhaling water vapour that contains the bacteria. The vapour may come from hot tubs, showers or air-conditioning units for large buildings. The bacteria does not spread from person to person. The overall fatality rate is about 15%, but this increases in those with underlying diseases.
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