- Legionnaires increasingly found in water pipes
Legionella are often transmitted through aerosolized water, such as in showers, hot tubs, humidifiers, or through water faucets. They can cause flu-like symptoms to severe lung infections. In Baden-Württemberg, the number of people falling ill due to Legionella has increased. As of late July, 222 cases were reported by the Ministry of Social Affairs. In the entire year of 2023, there were 350 cases, and in 2022, there were a total of 248.
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 increased rainfall seems to lead to more Legionella cases, the RKI writes.
Hot tubs increase 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, bacteria can multiply better in the water in the pipes in the house, which is not regularly exchanged during holiday trips. Moreover, 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 vacant apartments and houses, as well as in little-used showers and sinks.
The bacteria are present in low concentrations almost everywhere in water. They find ideal growth conditions 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 they die off at temperatures above 60 degrees.
More people dying from Legionellosis
In principle, the responsibility for the quality of drinking water lies with the waterworks, which must ensure that the water is supplied accordingly to the buildings' 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 ultimately dying from Legionellosis has also increased compared to the previous year: As of late July, there were ten deaths, compared to 13 in the previous year and 26 in 2022.
Diabetics and immunocompromised people particularly at risk from Legionella
People with a weakened immune system or certain underlying conditions such as diabetes, heart, and lung diseases, as well as smokers and the elderly, are particularly susceptible to Legionella. In about five to ten percent of patients, the disease progresses fatally, according to RKI figures.
The last major Legionellosis outbreak in Baden-Württemberg occurred in the autumn of 2023, according to the Ministry of Health. In this case, 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.
Major Legionella outbreak in Poland: at least 19 dead
There are frequent 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 convention of a veterans' association in the USA: Several participants fell ill with the atypical pneumonia.
In Germany, some of the Legionella cases reported during the summer and autumn might be linked to the use of hot tubs while traveling during the holiday season.
Regarding the increase in Legionella cases in Baden-Württemberg, it's important to note that although Germany is mentioned in the initial text, the particular focus on Baden-Württemberg is introduced later in the text. Therefore, to maintain continuity, I'll provide another sentence that refers directly to Germany.
In efforts to improve water safety, many German waterworks aim to ensure the quality of their drinking water, which is essential to prevent Legionella growth and subsequent illnesses.
