Published Date: 2001-06-30 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/EDR> Legionellosis - UK (London): alert
Archive Number: 20010630.1249

LEGIONELLOSIS - UK (LONDON): ALERT
**************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail, a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
Date: 29 Jun 2001
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Eurosurveillance Weekly Issue 26; 28 Jun 2001 [edited]
<http://www.eurosurv.org/update/>

Cases of legionnaires' disease in the UK and Sweden linked with a
London site
----------------------------------------------------
There have been 3 confirmed cases of legionnaires' disease associated
with central London, in particular the area of Portman Square. The
cases are all men aged between 31 and 61 years; illness onsets were 22
May, 25 May, and 3 Jun [2001]. While 2 cases had worked in the area,
the third case was reported to the PHLS Communicable Disease
Surveillance Centre (CDSC) by the Swedish collaborator in the European
Surveillance Scheme for Travel Associated Legionnaires' Disease (1).
This case had visited London and been in the Portman Square area
before the onset of his illness. All cases were diagnosed in their
admitting hospital by urinary antigen detection.
_Legionella pneumophila_ serogroup 1 infection has been confirmed in
the 2 British cases by the Respiratory and Systemic Infection
Laboratory at the PHLS Central Public Health Laboratory.
An outbreak control team has been convened and possible environmental
sources of infection within a 500 metre radius of Portman Square are
being investigated. _L. pneumophila_ serogroup 1 has been identified
in water systems and cooling towers in 3 buildings in the vicinity.
Control measures have been taken at all 3 sites and further
investigations are in hand.
All Consultants for Communicable Disease Control in England and Wales
have been alerted to the outbreak. Information has been disseminated
in Europe through the European Surveillance Scheme for Travel
Associated Legionnaires' Disease and in the United States via the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDSC would be
grateful for information on any other suspected cases of legionnaires'
disease who became ill during May or June that might be associated
with this incident. Please contact Carol Joseph, European legionella
surveillance scheme project co-ordinator (tel: 0208 200 6868 ext 4497;
email cjoseph@phls.org.uk).
Information on the European surveillance scheme for travel associated
legionnaires' disease can be obtained from its website:

[Byline: Carol Joseph
Public Health Laboratory Service
Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre
London
<cjoseph@phls.org.uk>]
--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
.............................mpp/pg/jw


*##########################################################*
ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
or archived material.
************************************************************
Visit ProMED-mail's web site at <http://www.promedmail.org>.
Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org
(NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give your
full name and affiliation, it may not be posted. Send
commands to subscribe/unsubscribe, get archives, help,
etc. to: majordomo@promedmail.org. For assistance from a
human being send mail to: owner-majordomo@promedmail.org.
############################################################
############################################################