In just six days, between September 16 and 22, 17 cases of legionellosis were identified in Albertville, Savoy, the Prefecture and the Regional Health Agency (ARS) announced on Tuesday, September 23. It is more than the annual average in the department. According to Ars, one person died and another five have been hospitalized in resuscitation.
“It’s a lot, it’s scary,” he reacts in BFMTV, a city resident. “Everyone can worry and it can be serious,” adds another.
All patients “resided or frequented the commune of Albertville,” said Anne-Sophie Ronnaux-Baron, head of the Health Surveillance Center for Ars Auverne-Rhône-Alpes.
Respiratory pathology
Legionellosis is linked to a bacterium often present in hot water sources. This disease, which mainly affects adults, affects the lungs and is transmitted inhaling micro-Drop infected.
According to Ars, “symptoms combine fever, headache, extreme fatigue, frequent digestive cough and disorders such as diarrhea and can be confused with other pulmonary pathologies, types of pneumopathy.” Legionellosis can also, at a more advanced stage, evolve towards respiratory difficulties and can be fatal in 10% of cases.
This pathology can be serious in immunocompromised people, disease loads, chronic respiratory pathologies, diabetics or even smokers.
In Savoy, an investigation is being carried out to identify the infectious source. “At the request of the ARS, there were additional investigations. All establishments that depended on the community have been controlled, there is no danger at this level. But this source can come from another team, private,” he emphasizes in BFMTV Frédéric Burnier Framboret, mayor of Albertville.
Source: BFM TV
