One person dead, 26 infected in Legionnaires' outbreak in Basel
Nine hospitalized, one in critical condition; cooling towers at a commercial building suspected as source.
An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the Swiss city of Basel has left one person dead and 26 people infected, health authorities report. Nine of those infected have been admitted to hospital and one patient is in serious condition.
Suspected source and spread
Investigators suspect the source of the infections to be cooling towers installed on a commercial building in Basel. Health experts say the bacterium Legionella pneumophila causes the illness and that it spreads when people inhale tiny droplets of water contaminated with the bacteria.
Most of the cases have been identified in a single neighborhood of Basel, but a number of isolated cases have been recorded elsewhere in the city. Basel lies on the border with France and Germany, raising concern about potential cross-border exposure while local authorities trace the origin and scope of the outbreak.
Local public health teams are carrying out inspections of the suspected installation and notifying residents in the affected area. Clinical services say they are monitoring hospitalized patients closely and providing appropriate antibiotic treatment for Legionnaires' disease.
Authorities have urged anyone with symptoms of pneumonia — such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing — who was in the area recently to seek medical attention promptly.
Photo: press material from the event
