- heightened occurrences of Legionnaires' disease in Thuringia
In Thuringia this year, five individuals have fallen ill and passed away due to diseases caused by Legionella bacteria, which is double the number from the entire previous year. The death toll for 2022 was five as well. The number of Legionella cases has also increased significantly in the Free State in the past two years. By early August, 30 cases were reported, more than double the number in the same period in 2022. From January to early August 2023, there were 21 cases, and the total for 2023 has reached 38.
Legionella bacteria are long, rod-shaped microorganisms that commonly spread through aerosolized water, such as in showers, hot tubs, humidifiers, or through water taps. The German Robert Koch Institute (RKI) suggests that the overall increase in numbers could be due to improved case recognition, an aging population, and changes in climate. The combination of high temperatures and more rain seems to lead to an increase in Legionnaires' disease cases.
Regionally, there have been a considerable number of cases in the district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen since 2023. However, investigations by the health and environmental authorities have not found a direct cause, the ministry stated. Improved case detection through diagnostic clarification of respiratory diseases during hospital stays could be a possible reason.
In general, more cases of Legionnaires' disease are reported during the summer and autumn. Reasons for this could be travel during the holiday season and the associated infection risks, such as swimming in hot tubs, as the RKI suggests. According to the Ministry of Health, around 20 percent of Thuringian cases are linked to travel, mainly to southern Europe, which matches the national average.
Furthermore, the bacteria can multiply more effectively in water that is not regularly exchanged in the pipes of residents' homes during their holiday travels. Higher temperatures also promote the growth of Legionella in cold water or cooling systems.
To protect against Legionella, the ministry recommends occasionally running the water in empty apartments and houses, as well as in little-used showers and washbasins.
Legionnaires' disease, a form of Legionellosis, was first identified in 1976 during a convention of a veterans' association in the USA, where several participants became ill with the unusual lung infection.
The following statistics indicate a doubling of Legionella cases in the Free State since 2021, with 30 cases reported by early August in 2023. The following health authorities in Schmalkalden-Meiningen are currently investigating a significant increase in Legionella cases in that district since the beginning of 2023.
