Open AccessTravel Associated Legionnaires' Disease in Europe : 2003
Author(s) -
K D Ricketts,
C Joseph
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
euro surveillance/eurosurveillance
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.766
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1560-7917
pISSN - 1025-496X
DOI - 10.2807/esm.09.10.00480-en
Subject(s) - legionnaires' disease , case fatality rate , medicine , residence , legionella , demography , disease , accommodation , pediatrics , epidemiology , biology , legionella pneumophila , genetics , neuroscience , sociology , bacteria
Six hundred and thirty two cases of travel-associated legionnaires' disease with onset in 2003 were reported to the EWGLINET surveillance scheme by 24 countries. Eighty nine clusters were detected, 35 (39%) of which would not have been detected without the EWGLINET scheme. One hundred and seven accommodation sites were investigated and 22 sites were published on the EWGLI website. The proportion of cases diagnosed primarily by the urinary antigen test was 81.2%, and 48 positive cultures were obtained. Thirty eight deaths were reported to the EWGLINET scheme, giving a crude fatality rate of 6%. Countries are encouraged to inform the coordinating centre of cases that fall ill after travelling within their own country of residence ('internal travel'), and are also encouraged to obtain patient isolates for culture where at all possible.