In Milan, a total of 29 houses were sampled in an attempt to identify them origins of the outbreak of 11 legionella cases (with one death)found in the San Siro district, an area adjacent to via Rembrandt. These are case homes (10 in total, as 1 home was inaccessible) and “some control homes,” ATS summarized in an update released today. The currently available result is “refers to 4 houses”of “2 cases and 2 controls” and “showed only 1 positive in a control home followed by indication of remediation,” the health protection agency reported.
The investigation expanded to waterways and other sensitive sites
Meanwhile, ATS informed, “the evaporation towers in the area have been inspected and all have been surveyed and evaluated. One of them needs to be taken samples when they are operational. taking samples at various points in the public water network. Laboratory analysis of these points is still ongoing.”
Experts also expanded the investigation to other sensitive sites in the neighborhood, with particular reference to places that may be frequently used. These places “were inspected, but no risk situations were found. There are no decorative fountains in the neighborhood that could be a source of spread of legionella. However, extensive verification activities are ongoing”, explained the ATS.
Inpatient
“One patient is currently still being treated in hospital.” These cases of infection, the health protection agency stressed, concern people who “all live in different buildings from each other, that is, they are not connected to each other by living in the same condominium”.
How legionella spreads
Legionella, the ATS recalls, is a bacteria that lives “in aquatic environments where it can then spread to home water supplies and other systems.” Transmission occurs exclusively through “inhalation of small droplets (aerosols)” from contaminated water, while “person-to-person transmission is unlikely, or by drinking such water”.
