Basel Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak: 26 Cases, One Death Confirmed

An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease has infected 26 people and caused one death, according to health authorities in the Swiss city. Of the confirmed patients, 25 required hospital treatment and seven were admitted to intensive care. Nine people remained hospitalised, including one receiving intensive care, when authorities issued their latest update. Most cases were detected in the same central area near the River Rhine, although isolated infections were also reported elsewhere in Basel.

Basel-City canton said the concentration of cases indicated that one or more common sources were likely responsible for the outbreak. Investigators focused on water-based cooling systems and collected samples from 10 cooling facilities. High levels of Legionella pneumophila, the bacterium responsible for most human Legionnaires’ disease infections, were found in two cooling towers located on the roof of an office building. The suspected facilities were shut down on Friday and were undergoing refurbishment.

Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia caused by inhaling small droplets of water contaminated with Legionella bacteria. It can range from a mild illness resembling influenza to severe and potentially fatal pneumonia. Reported symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, diarrhoea and breathing difficulties, while some patients may cough up blood. The infection can be treated with antibiotics, but prompt medical attention is particularly important for people who develop severe respiratory symptoms.

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The disease does not ordinarily spread directly from one person to another. Outbreaks are commonly associated with contaminated artificial water systems that produce airborne droplets, including cooling towers, air-conditioning systems, humidifiers and whirlpool spas. Older adults, smokers, people with chronic lung conditions and those with weakened immune systems generally face a higher risk of developing serious illness after exposure to the bacteria.

Basel health authorities are continuing inspections and monitoring for additional cases while work proceeds at the two suspected cooling facilities. Residents who develop symptoms consistent with pneumonia, particularly fever and shortness of breath, have been advised to consult a doctor. Basel has a population of approximately 180,000 and is Switzerland’s third-largest city after Zurich and Geneva. It lies near the country’s borders with France and Germany and is a major centre for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

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