Four out of nine water samples taken from the water supply system in the Polish town of Rzeszów (Podkarpackie Voivodeship) have been found to contain legionella bacteria, the causative agent of legionellosis, which is dangerous for immunocompromised people.
According to Polsat TV channel, specialists took these samples on August 18. A total of 105 samples are now being analyzed.
The first case of legionellosis was detected in Rzeszów on August 18, since then the infection was diagnosed in 144 people, 11 people died – these are patients aged 65 to 91 years old with a number of related diseases.
In addition to Rzeszów, infections were also reported from the Lubelskie, Małopolskie and Wielkopolskie voivodships.
Legionellosis, or “legionnaires’ disease,” is named after the first place of detection at the U.S. military base Fort Bragg. It is an acute infectious disease caused by various species of microorganisms belonging to the genus Legionella. As a rule, the disease runs with pronounced fever, general intoxication, damage to the lungs, central nervous system, digestive organs, and possible development of multiorgan failure syndrome.
