Authorities identify possible Legionella source in Linz cooling towers

Authorities have identified heavy Legionella contamination in cooling towers at a company on Wiener Straße as a possible source of 22 illnesses in the Linz area, ORF reported. The state of Upper Austria, Linz city authorities and the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety said five additional cases were recorded last week.

The affected people either live in Linz or were in the city during the possible infection period.

More than 100 samples from different potential sources were collected and analysed during the investigation. The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety found a high level of Legionella in the company’s cooling towers.

Linz authorities immediately introduced measures at the facility to prevent the bacteria from spreading and to ensure that the installation can operate safely.

It remains unclear whether the Legionella found in the cooling towers is linked to the illnesses. Further tests will compare the genetic material of the bacteria in the samples with that of the bacteria found in patients.

Authorities said other or additional sources of infection could not yet be ruled out. Investigations are continuing.