A growing phenomenon. 15 cases of legionellosis have been diagnosed since February 10 in the Ardennes, the Regional Health Agency (ARS) of the Greater East reported this Thursday in a press release. One of the patients died.
All the patients affected by the disease reside in the Charleville-Mézières agglomeration or went there in the two weeks prior to the appearance of the first symptoms, the health agency specifies. It deals exclusively with people between 50 and 89 years of age.
Legionnaires’ disease is a “lung infection that primarily affects adults and more particularly vulnerable individuals,” according to the ARS. Among them, the elderly, who suffer from chronic respiratory diseases or diabetes.
Only 10 cases per year in the department on average
This figure of 15 cases defies the health authorities, when, in general, there are only about 10 cases per year for the entire department of the Ardennes.
Investigations are underway to determine the source of the contamination. Led by ARS Grand Est, Public Health France Grand Est and by the Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing (DREAL), they should make it possible to determine the appropriate measures to implement to circumscribe and curb the infection.
The ARS specifies that all health establishments and liberal health professionals in the agglomeration have been informed of the situation.
An infection that needs to be treated quickly
Legionnaires’ disease is manifested by symptoms associated with a flu-like state, such as coughing or shortness of breath. These signs are accompanied by possible diarrhoea, muscle pain or intense fatigue.
If the patient is attended to quickly, the infection is cured very well with a dose of antibiotics, otherwise the disease evolves in a short time to pneumopathy, that is, an infection of the lungs. In many cases, the patient must be hospitalized.
The contamination is mainly through the respiratory route, but it is never transmitted from one person to another. It is not related to the consumption of tap water.
Source: BFM TV
