Mason Jones (Reporter)
A PENSIONER has died and three others have been hospitalised after an outbreak of Legionnaires disease in Spain.
Sprinkler systems and cooling towers are being examined in Osuna, near Sevilla, after an 84-year-old woman died from the disease last week.
It follows the first case in the town involving a 72-year-old man who was admitted and later discharged from Hospital de la Merced on October 1.
Mayor of Osuna, Rosario Andujar, has called for citizens to remain calm and insisted tap water does not pose any risk.
“Bacteria is only spread by inhalation, through the airways,” he said.
The bacterial disease, which is particularly dangerous to the elderly, has also infected an 86-year-old woman who remains in hospital.
Now a fourth suspected case, a 76-year-old man, awaits laboratory confirmation, while local hospitals are on high alert to spot any new victims immediately.
Legionnaires is not contagious but can be caught from inhaling water droplets from air conditioning units and shower heads.
I guess most people are aware of this but if you are in a second home for example and use your water system for the first time after several months, it is advisable to run the water long enough to drain the tank (keeping away from it) before taking a shower etc.
We had our storage tank removed and a direct connection to the town supply…when we took it down the bottom was about 2″ deep with sludge and god knows what else even though there was a tight lid on the tank….hopefully avoiding untold amount of germs.I hope that this outbreak is soon under control and the rest of the people in this lovely town of Osuna are kept safe.