Legionnaires' disease in residents of England and Wales: 1998

Abstract

Two hundred and twenty-six cases of legionnaires' disease who acquired infection in 1998 have been reported to the PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre. Twenty-five cases (11%) were reported to have died. One hundred and fifteen cases were associated with travel, either abroad or in the United Kingdom, three cases acquired infection in hospital, and the remaining 108 were presumed to have acquired infection in the community. Thirty-five cases were linked to industrial or community associated outbreaks in England and Wales, 22 cases to outbreaks or clusters abroad, and the remaining 169 cases (75%) were reported as single cases. The proportion of cases diagnosed by detection of urinary antigen has continued to increase; in 1998 it contributed to the diagnosis of 117 cases.