- Legionnaires' disease increased
They can cause flu-like symptoms up to severe lung infections: The number of people in Baden-Württemberg affected by Legionella has increased. By the end of July, 222 cases had been reported, according to the Ministry of Social Affairs. In the whole of 2023, there were 350 cases, and in 2022, there were a total of 248.
The bacteria are often transmitted through aerosolized water, such as in showers, hot tubs, humidifiers, or through faucets.
According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), possible reasons for the generally increasing numbers could be better case detection, an aging population, and changes in climate. The combination of high temperatures and more rain seems to lead to more Legionella cases, the RKI writes.
Swimming in hot tubs can pose an infection risk
In general, more Legionella cases are reported in 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 writes. Additionally, the bacteria can multiply better in the water in the pipes in the house, which is not regularly exchanged during holiday travels. Furthermore, higher temperatures are suitable for promoting the growth of Legionella.
To protect against Legionella, the Ministry of Social Affairs therefore recommends occasionally running the water in empty apartments and houses, as well as in little-used showers and sinks.
Ideal growth conditions between 25 and 45 degrees
The bacteria are present in low concentrations almost everywhere in water. Ideal growth conditions are found at temperatures between 25 and 45 degrees. According to the RKI, the growth of the bacteria is inhibited at water temperatures above 55 degrees, and above 60 degrees, the germs die.
In principle, the responsibility for the quality of drinking water lies with the waterworks, which must ensure that the water is supplied accordingly up to the building's pipes. Owners of larger residential buildings are obliged under certain conditions to have the drinking water checked at least every three years.
If a certain limit value for Legionella is exceeded, the local health authority must be informed. This will then support the elimination of the problem. The State Health Office has no figures on problematic Legionella occurrences in the past, according to the Ministry of Social Affairs.
The number of people who ultimately died from Legionella has also increased compared to the previous year: By the end of July, there were ten people, compared to 13 in the previous year and 26 in 2022.
Around five to ten percent of those affected die
People with a weakened immune system or certain underlying conditions such as diabetes, heart, and lung diseases, as well as smokers and older people, are particularly susceptible to Legionella. According to RKI figures, the disease is fatal in about five to ten percent of patients.
The last major Legionella outbreak in Baden-Württemberg was in the autumn of 2023, according to the Ministry of Health. At that time, a total of 39 women and men fell ill between August and November - 35 of them had to be hospitalized, but none died.
The health department and the environmental protection agency ultimately concluded that an evaporative cooling system in the city center was the source of the illnesses and shut it down. "Evaporative cooling systems are used in technical systems to transport the heat generated there," the Federal Environment Agency writes about these systems.
At least 19 dead in Poland in 2023
There are regularly reports worldwide of larger Legionella outbreaks with fatalities. For example, at least 19 people died in a major Legionella outbreak in the Polish city of Rzeszow and the surrounding region in late summer 2023.
The Legionnaires' disease was first identified in 1976 during a conference of a veterans' association in the USA: Several participants fell ill with the unusual pneumonia.
Legionnaires' disease, caused by Legionella bacteria, has claimed ten lives in Baden-Württemberg by the end of July, a significant increase from the previous year's figures.
Hot tub use, especially during the summer and autumn holiday season, can pose a risk of Legionnaires' disease due to the bacteria's favorable growth conditions in warm water.
