Category Archives: Legionella

USA – Shigella and Legionella Outbreaks

Posted on October 24, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Shigella Blog

Health officials at the Florida Department of Health in Broward County are advising parents, schools and daycare centers to take precautionary action to prevent the spread of Shigellosis. Shigellosis is a highly contagious form of diarrhea caused by Shigella bacteria. Shigella can spread through person to person contact and may cause severe diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Parents of children, or anyone with symptoms of Shigellosis should contact their healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.

Food Posioning Blog

October 23, 2013  by Leave a Comment

To date, one person has died and several others have been sickened in an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease linked to Glenwood Nursing Home in Florence, Alabama. Legionnaires’ is a form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water mist containing Legionella bacteria.

All confirmed and suspected cases have been either residents or visitors to the nursing home. The one person who has died in the outbreak was a woman who visited the facility with two family members. She later developed respiratory symptoms and was hospitalized. Tests confirmed Legionnaires disease (Legionella pneumonia). The other family members were also sickened.

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hand Washing, Legionella, Microbiology, Pathogen, Shigella

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Research – Legionella Bacteria Found in Commercial Compost Products

Posted on October 2, 2013 by | 1 comment

HACCPEuropaLegionella_Plate_01

The Legionella bacteria exist in a significant number of commercial compost products, a study conducted at the University of Strathclyde has found.

The research, the first substantial analysis of Legionella in UK composts, suggests that the bacteria are a common part of the microflora found within the composts tested.

It is widely recognised that Legionella bacteria are commonly present in the environment and the researchers have found that compost could be a potential source of infection.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Testing, Laboratory, Legionella, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

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USA – Legionella Outbreak

Posted on July 22, 2013 by | 1 comment

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Legionnaire’s outbreaks in Wisconsin and Ohio have sickened dozens of people, health authorities say. At least 20 people in Milwaukee County have  been diagnosed with the disease since June 1, 2013. Of those, 14 are from  the city of Milwaukee. Four people remain hospitalized. Wisconsin health authorities are looking for the source or sources of the outbreak

In Franklin County, Ohio, 22 illnesses have been associated with the Wesley Ridge Retirement Community in Reynoldsburg. Those sickened include visitors, residents and employees. Two of them have died. Franklin County Public Health,  the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are working together to determine the source of the outbreak

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Foodborne Illness, Laboratory, Legionella, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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USA – Legionnaires Outbreak – Fitness Center

Posted on July 3, 2013 by | Leave a comment

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Three people reported contracting Legionnaires’ disease after visiting the 24 Hour Fitness on Ridgeway Road in East Memphis, Tennessee. The gym’s spa and pool are now closed pending an investigation by the Shelby County Health Department. Legionnaires’ disease, a form of pneumonia, is caused by breathing in water mist contaminated with Legionella bacteria.

Anyone who was at the 24 Hour Fitness on Ridgeway Road in the last 2 weeks should watch for symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, including cough, fever, muscle aches, vomiting and diarrhea. This is a severe illness that is often fatal.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Laboratory, Legionella, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Water

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Reserch European Legionella Outbreaks 2009-2010

Posted on March 8, 2013 by | Leave a comment

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The surveillance of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) in Europe is carried out by the European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network (ELDSNet) and coordinated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). All cases reported in 2009 and 2010 and meeting the European case definition were electronically transmitted to The European Surveillance System (TESSy) database. A total of 5,551 and 6,305 cases were reported by 29 European countries in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The age-standardised rate of all cases was 1.20 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2010, 12% higher than in 2009, which was consistent with the increasing trend observed since 2005. Most of this increase consisted of community-acquired cases reported by France, Germany and the Netherlands with dates of onset in August–September. The exceptionally hot summer of 2010 in some parts of Europe may have played a role in this increase.

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Posted in Bacteria, Legionella, Pathogen, Research, Water

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UK – HPA – Legionnaires Information and Research

Posted on November 5, 2012 by | Leave a comment

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Around half (116) of the 235 cases of Legionnaires’ disease reported to the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in England and Wales in 2011 were in returning holiday makers. The annual number of Legionnaires’ cases has fallen from 355 cases in 2010, when around a third (114) were in returning travellers.

Legionnaires’ disease can be contracted by breathing in droplets of water or aerosols containing the legionella bacteria from water sources which may have had temperature problems, or where water has remained stagnant for a period of time. Spa pools, shower heads or taps can sometimes be the source of an outbreak.

The illness usually affects vulnerable people, such as the elderly and almost 70 per cent of the cases reported in 2011 were in people with an underlying health condition, including almost 30 per cent in people with heart disease. Smokers and people with diabetes or a weakened immune system were also at higher risk.

 

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, HPA, Legionella, Microbiology, Pathogen, Water

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HPA – Legionella Outbreak – Costa Brava

Posted on September 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

HPA

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is aware of seven confirmed and one possible case of Legionnaires’ disease in people who have stayed or visited Blanes in Costa Brava. Cases are from Spain, the Netherlands and Latvia. The age range of the patients, who are all recovering, is from 48 to 82 years. There are no UK cases associated with this outbreak.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, HPA, Legionella, outbreak, Pathogen

HPA – Update Legionella in Stoke on Trent

Posted on August 14, 2012 by | Leave a comment

HPA

Update 13 August: Legionnaires’ disease in Stoke-on-Trent

13 August 2012

A further case of Legionnaires’ disease has been confirmed in the Stoke-on-Trent outbreak bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 21. The case, a man in his seventies, is recovering in hospital.

This new case is not unexpected. It can take up to two weeks following exposure for people to develop symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease and a further few days before they might see their GP.

A spokesperson for University Hospital of North Staffordshire said: “Three patients remain in hospital and all are in a stable or improving condition.”

Media enquiries: Contact the Health Protection Agency West Midlands press office on 0121 232 9223

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Safety, HPA, Legionella, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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UK – Legionella Update from the HPA

Posted on July 31, 2012 by | Leave a comment

HPA

Public and environmental health experts investigating the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at Stoke-on-Trent believe they have identified a probable source.

The probable source is a hot tub based at JTF Warehouse, City Road, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent. We would like to emphasise that investigations are still ongoing. Environmental Health specialists from the Health and Safety Executive and Stoke-on-Trent City Council have taken and continue to take samples from sites across Stoke.

A spokesperson from the Health and Safety Executive said: “HSE continues to inspect premises where we are the enforcing authority and will do so until we have eliminated those sites from our investigations and are sufficiently assured there are no other possible sources.”

If people are displaying symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, such as: aching muscles, fever, tiredness, headaches and a dry cough, they should see their doctor or contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Illness, Legionella, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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UK – Legionnaires Outbreak – Stoke on Trent

Posted on July 26, 2012 by | Leave a comment

BBC

Seven people are being treated for Legionnaires’ disease in an outbreak in Stoke-on-Trent.

Those affected are six men and a woman, aged between their late 40s and 75, health officials said. wo men in their 70s are described as “stable” and the other patients are said to be “improving”.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said all seven patients were being treated at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Illness, Legionella, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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