Travellers to Italy are being warned about an outbreak of a deadly disease that has already claimed four lives. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has flagged the outbreak, as has the Foreign Office-backed website Travel Health Pro.

In a new update yesterday (23 August), the ECDC announced that Legionnaires’ disease had been detected in the metropolitan area of ​​Milan (Corsico and Buccinasco) in the Lombardy region – 12 people are currently in hospital.

As of August 19, 2024, a total of 53 confirmed cases, including four deaths, have been reported. Urgent measures are being taken to prevent transmission and the emergence of new cases.

According to official information, there is a risk of infection for people in the area because the source has not yet been identified.

According to the ECDC, the cases range in age from 26 to 94. The four deaths were all over 70 and had other health problems, officials said.

A total of 12 patients are currently in hospital, 37 have been discharged and four have died.

Extensive investigations are ongoing to trace the outbreak, with the ECDC stating: “Epidemiological, microbiological and environmental investigations are ongoing. Water samples were collected from several sampling points in the municipal water supply system, both from the water systems of private residences of patients/control cases and from cooling towers.

“Collection of respiratory specimens from patients and typing of isolated Legionella strains are continuing to assist in identifying the source of the outbreak. Public health measures to prevent transmission and emergence of new cases continue to be implemented, including chemical disinfection of the municipal water supply system and private residences with chlorine.”

Legionnaires’ disease is caused by inhaling Legionella bacteria in water vapor. People over 50 are at a higher risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease than younger people. This also applies to people with weakened immune systems or pre-existing medical conditions.