NewsDesk @bactiman63

According to Polish state media, the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in the city of  Rzeszow has resulted in five deaths to date.

According to health officials, 76 legionella cases have been hospitalized in the Rzeszow area.

The source of the bacterial infection still escapes officials and 56 water samples have been collected in Rzeszow and surrounding affected areas. Results are expected as early as Monday.

The health ministry said early on Thursday that a crisis team under the leadership of health minister Katarzyna Sojka had been formed to look into the outbreak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legionella bacteria are found naturally in freshwater environments, such as lakes and streams. Legionella can become a health concern when it grows and spreads in human-made building water systems such as cooling towers used in air conditioning systems, hot tubs, fountains, and large plumbing systems. Legionnaires’ disease, which is a type of pneumonia, may result when individuals breathe in droplets of water that contain the bacteria. Symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches, and headaches.

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Most healthy people exposed to Legionella do not get sick. Those at increased risk of getting sick are people age 50 years and older; current or former smokers; people with a chronic lung disease, weak immune systems, or cancer; and people with underlying illnesses such as diabetes, kidney failure, or liver failure.