In 2001, 807 cases of Legionnaires' disease were reported to the Institut de veille sanitaire (French national public health centre); that's 1.35 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to a mean European incidence of 0.6 per 100,000. Here is a summary:

* Age range: 16-97 years

* Median age: 59 years

* Gender ratio: 3:1 men to women

* Outcome known in 69% of the cases

* Death rate: 19.9%

* Contributing factors (in 558 cases): 11% had a cancer or blood disease, 12% received immunosuppressant treatment, 10% were diabetic, and 40% were smokers.

* 13% (105/807) of the cases were acquired during a hospital stay

* 11% of the cases were travel-associated.

Pontiac fever is a flu-like illness caused by Legionella bacteria. Since hospitalization is not required, and the symptoms are nonspecific, Legionella will not be recognized as the cause of the illness unless a cluster of cases gets the attention of the health department. Such was the situation in Rockford, Ill., where health officials determined that a cluster of illnesses probably was the result of an outbreak of Pontiac Fever. The story, in today's edition of the Journal-Standard, can be viewed at http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=6135620&BRD=1624&PAG=461&dept

On 17 October 2002, the Associated Press reported that a settlement has been reached in the last of 28 lawsuits related to a 1996 outbreak of Legionnaires' disease that involved 34 cases, including four deaths. The outbreak was blamed on a cooling tower at a Detroit area grocery store. One of the survivors, and the family of one who died, sued the grocery chain, the cooling tower manufacturer, and the company that maintained the tower. The settlement was reached just before the trial was to begin. Terms of the agreement were not released. The other lawsuits were settled earlier this year.

On 17 October 2002, Reuters reported that Spanish health authorities were investigating an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease that killed one man and hospitalized six others. Five of the victims were in the same hospital and came from the same district of Madrid.

THREE CASES IN MELBOURNE; LEGAL ACTION CONSIDERED

Three men, aged 54, 61 and 81, were hospitalized with Legionnaires' disease in Melbourne. One was still in intensive care as of 1 November. Health officials tested and disinfected all cooling towers at 13 sites in the suspected area. Legal action is being considered against the owner of an industrial site with an unregistered tower. Victorian law requires registration of every cooling tower. 

Source: Melbourne Herald Sun.

LEGIONELLA TRAINING COURSE IN WASHINGTON, DC

A few seats are still available for the Legionella Prevention Training Course to be held 5-6 December 2002 in the Washington, DC area. The Virginia Department of Mental Health is hosting the course, but registrations should be made through HCINFO (http://hcinfo.com/legionellaseminar.htm). The course will be held at VDMH's Northern Virginia Training Center in Fairfax, Virginia. The site is only 10 miles from Washington Dulles International Airport and close to many hotels and restaurants. Tuition is US$495. After registering you will receive information on transportation from the airport, driving directions, and nearby hotels.