Luxembourg - Legionnaires' disease outbreak at Steinfort hospital: 9 cases

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Legionnaires' disease outbreak at Steinfort hospital: 7 cases confirmed

RTL | Updated: 11.07.2025 19:08 |

The Steinfort Intercommunal Hospital in Luxembourg is currently experiencing an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, a serious respiratory infection. Seven cases have been confirmed, including three in elderly patients. The Health Directorate was quickly alerted, and an investigation is underway to determine the source of this contamination. Pending the results, strict preventive measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

The Ministry of Health and Social Security announced that a total of seven cases of pneumonia caused by the Legionella pneumophila bacterium have been reported to the Health Inspectorate. Six of those affected are residents or have stayed in the municipality of Steinfort, including three cases linked to the intercommunal hospital.

Legionnaires' disease is a respiratory infection caused by this naturally occurring bacteria in water. It primarily manifests as pneumonia, which can be serious, especially in the elderly or immunocompromised.

The bacteria is transmitted by inhaling aerosols from contaminated water—for example, from showers, misters, hot tubs, or cooling towers—but is not transmitted from person to person or through drinking water.

Since the cases were reported, the Steinfort Intercommunal Hospital has been working closely with the Health Inspectorate of the Department of Health and the municipality of Steinfort. Precautionary measures have been put in place, and an epidemiological investigation is underway to identify the source of the contamination.

Water samples were taken from both the hospital facilities and the municipal distribution network, with further analyses planned for the coming days.

This unusual situation could be linked to the exceptional heatwave recorded in June, which may have contributed to an abnormal rise in cold water temperatures, conducive to the proliferation of the bacteria.

The hospital has also reinforced its usual preventive measures, checked all its water circuits and ensured rigorous medical monitoring for its residents and people visiting the facility.

For the general population, including in Steinfort, the risks remain very low. However, vulnerable people - particularly those over 65 or immunocompromised - presenting symptoms suggestive of pneumonia (fever, cough, chest pain, deterioration of general condition) are encouraged to consult their general practitioner promptly.

For any questions, the Health Inspectorate of the Health Directorate can be reached at (+352) 247-55554.

The Ministry of Health and Social Security continues to work closely with the hospital, the municipality, and the Health Inspectorate to monitor the situation and protect public health.

https://infos.rtl.lu/actu/luxembourg/a/2320356.html

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Update on cases of Legionnaires' disease detected in Steinfort

Press release
11.07.2025
Last modified on 11.07.2025

The Department of Health and Social Security was informed on the evening of Thursday, July 10, that cases of Legionnaires' disease had been detected in unusual numbers.

Seven cases of pneumonia caused by the Legionella pneumophila bacterium were recently reported to the Health Inspectorate. Among those affected are six residents of the municipality of Steinfort or those who have stayed there, including three with a connection to the Steinfort Intercommunal Hospital. The patients are being treated in several hospitals, and the Health

Inspectorate of the Department of Health is currently conducting epidemiological investigations into the cases.

Legionnaires' disease is a respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila , which is naturally present in water. It most often manifests as pneumonia and can be serious, especially in the elderly or immunocompromised.

The bacteria is transmitted by inhaling water aerosols containing large quantities of Legionella (for example, when using showers, misters, jacuzzis, or cooling towers), but it is not transmitted from person to person or by drinking tap water.

The Steinfort Intercommunal Hospital immediately contacted the Health Inspectorate of the Department of Health, and precautionary measures were implemented. An epidemiological investigation to determine the source of the contamination is currently being conducted in close collaboration between the ministry, the hospital, and the municipality of Steinfort.

Water samples were taken both in the hospital facilities and in the municipal distribution network and additional samples will be taken in the coming days.

This very unusual situation could have been favored by the exceptional heat recorded during the month of June, with a high heat wave which could have led to an unusual rise in cold water temperatures, allowing the proliferation of the bacteria.

The Steinfort Intercommunal Hospital has also reinforced its usual Legionella prevention measures and has checked all of its water circuits and provided medical support to all of its residents and people visiting the facility.

The risks for the general population and for Steinfort in particular are currently considered very low.

Vulnerable people (over 65 or immunocompromised) who present symptoms suggestive of pneumonia (fever, cough, chest pain, deterioration of general condition) are invited to contact their general practitioner without delay.

For any questions, the Health Inspection of the Health Directorate can be contacted at (+352) 247-55554.

The Ministry of Health and Social Security continues to work closely with the Steinfort Intercommunal Hospital, the municipality of Steinfort and the Health Inspectorate to monitor the situation and protect public health.

Press release by the Ministry of Health and Social Security and the Steinfort Intercommunal Hospital

https://m3s.gouvernement.lu/fr/actu...uillet+11-legionellose-hopital-steinfort.html

 

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Nine bacterial infections
Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Steinfort: there have never been so many cases

Dr. Anne Vergison provides insight into this unusual outbreak and explains why Legionella may be more common in the future.

Mike Stevens
Journalist
07/08/2025

Where did the nine cases of Legionnaires' disease in the Steinfort region come from a few weeks ago? This question continues to be asked. On July 10, the Ministry of Health was informed of an abnormally high number of pneumonia cases. Yet, no Legionella was detected in the municipality's water system. How is this possible?

"There isn't always a correlation between water samples and Legionella," explains Dr. Anne Vergison, head of the Department of Health's Sanitary Inspection Division. "Sometimes you find a lot of Legionella and not a single case of Legionnaires' disease; sometimes you find relatively little Legionella and still find cases." According to her, there are still many unknown aspects, as Legionnaires' disease was only discovered in 1976.

"It was clearly an epidemic," says Dr. Anne Vergison of the space-related infections in the municipality of Steinfort. To use this term, the nine cases recorded are sufficient. "As soon as there is a number of cases that exceeds the normally expected frequency, we can speak of an epidemic." The cases are said to have appeared within a short period of time and in a limited area.

Such a high number of nine cases, linked in time and space, is not recorded in statistics from previous years. "In 2024, there were only nine cases in total in all of Luxembourg," adds Dr. Anne Vergison. "This year, we have very high numbers even though it's only July." Twenty cases have already been recorded. Between 2019 and 2024, the number of cases was between 10 and 22 each time.

A theory on the origin of bacteria

The specialist is able to explain why Legionella appeared suddenly. A single water sample is only a "snapshot" of the current situation. "Legionella are bacteria that form a film," she explains. "You can compare it to mucus, in which they stick and are protected." Indeed, Legionella reproduces poorly in running water and must attach itself. They adhere to the walls of pipes and envelop themselves in a protective gelatinous layer.

An external action, such as hitting a pipe with a hammer, can cause small pieces and bacteria to break off and enter the water system. This is also possible when the population has become too large. The concentration of bacteria in the water then temporarily increases. "This may explain why sewers are sometimes contaminated and why contamination cannot always be detected during sampling," continues Dr. Anne Vergison.

The tests carried out on the cold water in Steinfort and Kleinbettingen were correct, and the fact that no Legionella was found in the tap water is "reassuring," according to Ms. Vergison. However, not all the analyses have been carried out yet. "In the hot water systems, we found contamination in certain places," she continued. However, a possible common source for the Steinfort epidemic has not yet been found.

Legionella likes heat

Legionella prefers to be found in warmer water. "The fact that they are now occasionally found in cold water systems is new," explains the specialist. "It's a phenomenon that is clearly linked to climate change." When outdoor temperatures are high, tap water also warms up. Legionella prefers temperatures between 25 and 42°C. Cold water should therefore be below 25°C. Above 60°C, legionella is destroyed.

Generally speaking, today's lifestyle is more conducive to the spread of Legionella than it was in the past. When it first appeared in 1976, it spread through air conditioning systems. These have since evolved; little or no water accumulates in conventional models. "Today, there are other cooling systems that can generate aerosols containing Legionella," the healthcare professional cautions. "It's also linked to climate change." This ultimately creates the need to cool down.

This article was originally published on the Luxemburger Wort website.
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https://www.virgule.lu/luxembourg/e...l-n-y-a-jamais-eu-autant-de-cas/81777330.html