LEGIONELLOSIS - UK (LONDON): ALERT

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A ProMED-mail post

<http://www.promedmail.org>

ProMED-mail, a program of the

International Society for Infectious Diseases

<http://www.isid.org>

Date: 29 Jun 2001

From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>

Source: Eurosurveillance Weekly Issue 26; 28 Jun 2001 [edited]

<http://www.eurosurv.org/update/>

Cases of legionnaires' disease in the UK and Sweden linked with a London site

There have been 3 confirmed cases of legionnaires' disease associated with central London, in particular the area of Portman Square. The cases are all men aged between 31 and 61 years; illness onsets were 22 May, 25 May, and 3 Jun [2001]. While 2 cases had worked in the area, the third case was reported to the PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC) by the Swedish collaborator in the European Surveillance Scheme for Travel Associated Legionnaires' Disease (1). This case had visited London and been in the Portman Square area before the onset of his illness. All cases were diagnosed in their admitting hospital by urinary antigen detection. Legionella pneumophila_ serogroup 1 infection has been confirmed in the 2 British cases by the Respiratory and Systemic Infection Laboratory at the PHLS Central Public Health Laboratory. An outbreak control team has been convened and possible environmental sources of infection within a 500 metre radius of Portman Square are being investigated. L. pneumophila serogroup 1 has been identified in water systems and cooling towers in 3 buildings in the vicinity. Control measures have been taken at all 3 sites and further investigations are in hand. All Consultants for Communicable Disease Control in England and Wales have been alerted to the outbreak. Information has been disseminated in Europe through the European Surveillance Scheme for Travel Associated Legionnaires' Disease and in the United States via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDSC would be grateful for information on any other suspected cases of legionnaires' disease who became ill during May or June that might be associated with this incident. Please contact Carol Joseph, European legionella surveillance scheme project co-ordinator (tel: 0208 200 6868 ext 4497; email cjoseph@phls.org.uk). Information on the European surveillance scheme for travel associated legionnaires' disease can be obtained from its website: <www.ewgli.org>

[Byline: Carol Joseph

Public Health Laboratory Service

Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre

London

<cjoseph@phls.org.uk>]