Christmas 2006 - a look back on the year that has been.

2006 Round up

As we quickly approach the end of 2006 it is interesting to reflect over the year. Unfortunately, we continue to read about the same old problems and excuses time and time again - “an unfortunate incident due to an extremely rare set of circumstances” ….probably in part a true statement, only because cases of LD are rarely diagnosed correctly!   Reported cases of LD represents only the very tip of the legionella infection iceberg. As studies of large commercial premises have found legionella present in the majority of domestic water systems we expect to bring you much LD related news for 2007. 

2006 Flashback

Personal compensation claims: we reported on the steady rise in this activity
HTM 04-01 document arrived: will PFI hospitals become safer places?
Barrow outbreak: public hearings underway – no public inquiry!
October: we read reports about the unexpected rise in LD cases, we predict the same for October 2007
Cooling towers: thankfully not too much to report
Communal showering: regular incidents reported at hotels, sports clubs and universities
Individual showers: fatalities mainly associated with hospitals
Header tanks: associated incidents reported twice
Car / lorry washers: one incident reported
• Spas: several incidents reported

However, the most unusual incident of 2006 was a combined outbreak of LD and Pontiac fever in a N.E. leisure club. When was the last time we even heard of a case of Pontiac fever, let alone 100 cases!  It just goes to show that there needs to be a very large number of Pontiac cases before it hits the infection radar, it makes one wonder just how many 1,000’s of sporadic cases go unnoticed? However, it appears that professional sports organizations are becoming more aware of this problem.

Source - Legionella Control Journal