Jon Clarke (Publisher & Editor)FOLLOWING the death of four people in Madrid, the health authorities are looking for the source of the latest Legionnaires outbreak.
Traces of the bacteria, which has been spreading across central Madrid since mid-October, were found in contaminated cooling facilities belonging to the pizzeria ‘Danieli’.
And the Ministry of Health has confirmed it has sealed two cooling towers in the capital which had “high contamination” of Legionnaires.
But the next step is to compare the bacteria found in the towers with those who have been affected.
The ministry has also ordered the cleaning of five towers spread across Torrespaña, the Gregorio Maranon hospital and the headquarters of the Navy.
And to date 677 inspections have been carried out to determine the source and 137 samples have been sent to the Laboratory of Public Health.
There are now 44 reported cases of the disease which is caused by a bacteriological build-up in air-conditioning units.
The latest victim, an 82 year old woman died on November 2 at the Fundación Jiménez Díaz hospital.
How risky is this? Should we not travel to Madrid? I read that it is not transmitted via air conditioners and cooling towers, but via drinking water. So – is this hysteria or should I be wary?
For maximum safety, I think you need to emigrate Francisco. Honestly though, the chances of catching this disease are pretty remote. I once had an aunt who would not venture outside her house in fear of a meteorite hitting her. Same odds here (she was killed by a falling tree ironically, silly old bat.)