Four people died and 71 others were taken to hospital in the city of Rzeszow, southeastern Poland, after being infected with Legionella bacteria, a medical source told AFP on Wednesday.
“Three people have died of legionellosis,” said Andre Sroka, a spokesman for the University Hospital in Rzesow, noting that the deceased were “elderly”, reports Al-Rai daily.
Later, the hospital director announced the death of a fourth person who contracted the bacteria. The deceased was a 70-year-old man who was suffering from serious illnesses, including cancer.
Hospital director Grigor Materna told the Polish News Agency, “Tests confirmed that he was infected with bacteria.”
Legionnaires’ disease results from a dangerous pulmonary infection caused by bacteria that infect the human respiratory system, and is transmitted to it either through drinking water contaminated with it, or through inhalation through air conditioning.
The local health authorities said in a statement that a total of 71 people were hospitalized after being infected with this bacteria, which causes serious respiratory problems.
She added that he did not know the source of their infection with this bacteria.
The municipality of Rzeszow has formed a crisis cell to deal with this health emergency, and has announced that at the end of the week it will carry out an additional disinfection of the city’s water supply network.
On Monday, the authorities will announce the results of tests of water samples taken from the various springs that supply the city with water.
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