Legionella found in another cooling system near Linz

Legionella bacteria have been detected in a cooling system at a commercial business in Linz-Leonding, ORF reported on Thursday. The finding comes as 31 people have fallen ill with Legionnaires’ disease in the greater Linz area and three have died.

The positive sample came from a cooling system in the Doppl and Haidfeldstraße area. The Linz-Land district health authority is carrying out further investigations and consulting the company about the disinfection measures required.

It has not yet been established whether the cooling system is connected to the illnesses. Further tests are intended to clarify a possible link.

More than 190 water samples have so far been collected from homes, workplaces, accommodation providers and cooling systems as authorities search for the source of the infections. About two thirds have been analysed by the AGES reference laboratory.

Legionnaires’ disease, medically known as legionellosis, is a severe form of pneumonia that can sometimes be fatal. Legionella bacteria occur naturally in soil and water and become particularly dangerous when inhaled in fine water droplets known as aerosols. Older people, smokers and people with pre-existing conditions or weakened immune systems are among those at higher risk.