The Department of Health has been informed of the diagnosis of seven further cases of Legionnaires' disease taking the overall number of people affected by legionellosis outbreak to 38.

 

 The first case is a 72-year-old man, who developed symptoms on 1 November and was hospitalised on 7 November in VGH. He’s progressing favourably.

 

The second case is a 55-year-old man, who developed symptoms on 2 November and was hospitalised in VGH. He’s progressing favourably.

The third case is a 51-year-old man, who developed symptoms on 4 November and was hospitalised yesterday in VGH. He’s progressing favourably.

 

The fourth case is a 61-year-old woman, who developed symptoms on 5 November and was hospitalised today in VGH. She’s progressing favourably.

The fifth case is a 60-year-old woman, who developed symptoms on 5 November and was hospitalised today in VGH. She’s progressing favourably.

 

The sixth case is a 73-year-old man, who developed symptoms on 4 November and was hospitalised today in VGH. He’s progressing favourably.

The seventh case is a 79-year-old man, who developed symptoms on 6 November and was hospitalised today in VGH. He’s progressing favourably.

 

Out of the rest of people affected, 31 in total, 2 died, 1 is in VGH’s ICU, another is in Girona's Trueta Hospital’s ICU, 15 have been discharged, and the other 12 are still hospitalised in Vic's General Hospital and Sant Josep Clinic, and in Girona's Trueta Hospital and are progressing favourably.

The Department of Health, in collaboration with Vic Town Hall , has carried out an epidemiologic and environmental investigation to discover the outbreak’s origin in an area of 2 km . More than 40 companies have been checked, and 29 samples have been taken corresponding to all coolant circuits which were operating when the outbreak occurred. Samples are now being processed in a laboratory.

Samples are now being processed in the laboratory and culture results will be available in next days. Once results are obtained, it will be possible to compare them with results of analysis made to patients.

Shock disinfection was also carried out in 25 cooling towers of 4 companies located in the area under investigation to control the outbreak.

As the incubation period is 10 days, other cases previously infected to shock disinfection could be given.

Population needn’t take any preventive measure and the city of Vic can be safely visited.