Legionella outbreak in Linz leaves three dead

Three people have died in connection with a Legionella outbreak in Linz, ORF reported. Authorities in Upper Austria, the Linz municipal administration and the Agency for Health and Food Safety have registered 26 cases since the start of the cluster of severe pneumonia cases.

All 24 patients from Upper Austria required hospital treatment, with some admitted to intensive care. Two other people who became infected live abroad but had been in Linz before falling ill.

The source of the outbreak remains unclear. Authorities are investigating cooling towers, fountains and washing facilities in Linz and the surrounding area. More than 150 environmental samples have been collected, and more than 80 have been analysed.

Legionella was detected in cooling towers at a company on Wienerstraße. The facilities have since been cleaned and disinfected, but authorities said it was still unclear whether they were connected to the outbreak. Results from further investigations are expected next week.

Tests on samples from three patients found that all the bacteria belonged to the same Legionella subtype, Allentown/France. The pathogens were genetically closely related, suggesting that the patients may have been infected at the same source.

Four additional cases have been reported since last week. Authorities said they were continuing the search for the source as a high priority, using artificial intelligence, satellite images, weather data and operational data.

Legionnaires’ disease, also known as legionellosis, is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which can multiply in water pipes and cooling systems.