According to the BBC, Albagaia, a Scottish firm, has just received a boost in funding for tests that detect Legionella much more efficiently than current testing systems.  Albagaia’s testing kit can detect Legionella bacteria–which can lead to Legionnaires’ disease, a form of pneumonia—in only 25 minutes, as compared to traditional laboratory tests that can take up to two weeks.  In addition, Albagaia is developing smartphone compatibility with its test, which should expedite and streamline the results reporting process.

Legionnaires disease is an under diagnosed illness, largely due to the lack of efficient testing.  Albagaia seeks to improve testing, which should give doctors the information they need to properly diagnose and treat patients who acquire Legionnaires’ disease.

For more information, refer to the following article:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-17989289

According to Cyprus Mail, four doctors, including the director of a Nicosia private clinic pleaded guilty to not maintaining water systems properly, and will stand trial on June 27.  In 2008, an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease resulted in 11 infants becoming ill at the clinic, and the unfortunate deaths of three newborns.  The doctors admitted to not performing the necessary checks on the water distribution system that would have stopped the growth of Legionella bacteria, which was found in the humidifiers and in the water system.  The case has caused much outrage in Cyprus, as the infant deaths seem to have been avoidable, had appropriate measures been taken by the staff at the clinic.

For more information, refer to the following article:

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/court-case/doctors-plead-guilty-infant-death-cases/20120508

According to PR Newswire, Phigenics LLC – a water management services company – is publishing a research paper that shows that conventional methods of Legionella testing can yield up to 33% false-positive test results for Legionella bacteria, and that such testing methods also yield “significant” false-negative results. The report, titled “Inaccuracy in Legionella Tests of Building Water Systems Due to Sample Holding Time,” was published in Water Research, the official journal of the International Water Association.

The report asserts that inaccuracies in testing can be eliminated by culturing the bacteria immediately after taking a water sample on-site at the facility location. Shipping water samples to the laboratory increases susceptibility to errors outlined above, as the transit time can interfere with the sample.

The report hopes to reform current conventional Legionella bacteria testing, PR Newswire reports.

For more information, and a link to a full copy of the report, please visit the site below:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/phigenics-research-challenges-accuracy-of-conventional-legionella-testing-protocol-148090695.html

Update on More Attempts to Prevent the Spread of Legionella in Auckland

According to the New Zealand Herald, three new cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been reported in Auckland over the weekend. This brings the total to 15 cases over the past nine weeks, with one death.

The Auckland Council continues to work on asking building owners to treat their cooling towers. It is still unknown whether the cases are linked.

Updates to follow as they become available.

For more information, please reference the article below:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10801199

According to the Washington Post, Pat Dent, who became ill with Legionnaires disease last August, is suing the hotel where he contracted the disease. Mr. Dent stayed at the Plim Plaza Hotel in Ocean City, Maryland, became sick several days later, and was hospitalized and diagnosed with Legionnaires disease. His medical bills would eventually add up to more than $200,000. Mr. Dent filed suit in Baltimore last Wednesday, and is seeking $5 million in damages and an additional $1 million for loss of consortium.

The outbreak at the Plim Plaza Hotel last summer led to six confirmed cases of Legionnaires disease. Jules Zacher, Esq. is currently involved in a separate case against the Plim Plaza Hotel, on behalf of other victims of this outbreak.

For more information, please reference article below:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/man-who-contracted-legionnaires-disease-sues-ocean-city-hotel-for-6-million/2012/04/20/gIQAF5wfWT_story.html

According to the Aberdeen Evening Press, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has found issues in the legionella safety procedures of NHS Grampian Hospital in Scotland.

After a false alarm concerning a patient who was thought to have contracted Legionnaires’ disease from the hospital, the HSE investigated the hospital and discovered some legionella prevention failings in the water systems. It ordered the hospital to improve its policy.

NHS Grampian has since taken steps to upgrade its policy, Aberdeen Evening Press reports.

For more information, please reference article below:

http://local.stv.tv/aberdeen/news/304046-improvements-ordered-at-hospital-after-legionella-scare/

On April 17, the Center for Health Protection (CHP) of the Hong Kong Department of Health began investigating a case of Legionnaires’ Disease for a 58-year-old man, Business News Asia reports.

The man had travelled to Sanshui, Guangdog Province from April 3 to 4, and began experiencing the symptoms of shortness of breath and coughing since April 8.

He was admitted to St. Teresa’s Hospital on April 15^th, where urine tests confirmed he had Legionnaires’ disease. He was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit on April 17^th, and is now in critical condition. The CHP’s investigation is still in progress.

Updates to follow as they become available.

For more information, please reference the article below:

http://asiarelease.asia/chp-investigates-case-of-legionnaires-disease-4/

Update on “Woman Dies From Legionnaires’ Disease in Auckland” and “Another Case in Auckland Outbreak”

According to NewsTalkZB, the Auckland Building Council sent out 18,000 letters to businesses yesterday warning them about the Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak in the city. Businesses have been instructed to treat their cooling towers with chemicals in order to kill any traces of legionella bacteria.

So far, 12 people have been diagnosed with the disease, including one who has died.

The Auckland Council building control manager Ian McCormack advises that all businesses call the Council to confirm that their cooling towers have been treated, NewsTalk ZB reports.

For more information, please reference the article below:

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/news/nbhea/296805954-Attempts-to-combat-spread-of-Legionnaires-

Update on “Hotel Guests at Best Western Hotel May Still be at Risk of Legionnaires’ Disease” and “Six Legionnaires’ Cases traced back to Best Western hotel in Albany, NY.”

According to the Times Union, the Albany County Health Department has declared that the Albany Best Western Hotel has been decontaminated of legionella bacteria.

Since the outbreak of six cases that occurred at the hotel in September to December 2011, the hotel has been required to post signs warning hotel guests of the potential threat. Business subsequently plummeted- guests decreased by 75% and the hotel laid off 20 workers.

To combat the bacteria, the hotel replaced its water tank and flushed bleach throughout the water system.

Luckily these measures have worked. After the Department of Health approved the hotel for clearance, the signs warning guests were allowed to be taken down. Mansoor Mustafa, the general owner, looks at this clearance as an opportunity to “move on.”

The hotel is hosting a “welcome back event” for long-time customers, local officials, and tourism industry representatives on April 26, Times Union reports.

For more information, please reference the article below:

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Albany-hotel-wins-clean-bill-of-health-after-3460062.php

Updating a previous blog post on the Auckland, New Zealand Legionnaires’ disease outbreak, another patient was diagnosed with the disease today.  This brings the total to 12 who have become sick in the last six months.  The New Zealand Herald reports that 300 buildings in Auckland are believed to be affected, and that owners of buildings have been told to use chemical “shock treatments” to kill the Legionella bacteria. Unfortunately, with so many building affected, it is likely that more people will be affected by this outbreak.

More updates will follow as they become available.

Please see the following article for more information:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10797125