One person died and five others were hospitalized in resuscitation due to legionellosis in Albertville, the Prefecture of Savoie and the Regional Health Agency, which report 17 cases in total on Tuesday, September 23.
The cases were identified between September 16 and 22. All patients “resided or frequented the commune of Albertville,” Anne-Sophie Ronnaux-Bron, head of the Health Surveillance Center for Ars Auverne-Rhône-Alpes, said at a press conference.
Among the most severely affected people, “some are still hospitalized,” he said, without further details about their number or profile of these patients. “The investigations are underway” to find the origin of the pollution, according to the manager, who expects “more information in the next few days.”
Aerosol pollution
Legionellosis is a respiratory infection “due to the inhalation of a water spray contaminated by the Legionella bacteria,” explains the Ministry of Health on site. This bacterium is present in the natural environment and proliferates in the artificial water sites, “when the conditions for its development are met, particularly between 25 and 45 ° C”, according to Public Health France (SPF).
This public organization depends on the Ministry of Health, for example, cites hot water networks, Aerorrefrigeante Torres, swirls, humidifiers, decorative sources or even respiratory therapy devices. Contamination is done by respiratory means, but the disease is not transmitted from person to person.
“Global warming helps the multiplication of bacteria due to floods and heavy rains,” said the Pasteur Institute in place.
Symptoms similar to flu
The symptoms of legionellosis are similar to those of the flu: fever, chills, cough, respiratory difficulties and sometimes other signs such as nausea and confusion. They appear between 2 and 10 days after exposure to bacteria. To confirm a diagnosis, urinary, blood or pulmonary tests may be necessary.
According to SPF, in France, since 2017, on average, 1,800 cases of legionellosis have been recorded every year. The disease can cause severe pulmonary infection: it is fatal in approximately 10% of cases.
Its severity depends on different factors, “especially on the virulence of the contracted contract and the vulnerability of the individual (smoking, age, immunocompromised, transplanted, people with diabetes, renal failure, coexistence of a chronic disease …)”, according to the Ministry of Health.
Detected early, legionellosis can be treated by taking antibiotics. “In case of evocative symptoms, quickly consult your doctor. In case of lack of availability or doubts, call 15,” he advocates Savoy Prefecture on Tuesday.
Source: BFM TV
