The department notes an upsurge in cases of this lung infection. If not treated quickly, the disease can progress to pneumonia and require hospitalization.

A growing phenomenon. 15 cases of legionellosis have been diagnosed since February 10 in the Ardennes, reports the Regional Health Agency (ARS) of the Grand Est this Thursday in a Press release. One of the patients died.

All of the patients affected by the disease reside in the agglomeration of Charleville-Mézières or went there in the two weeks preceding the appearance of the first symptoms, specifies the health agency. These are exclusively people between the ages of 50 and 89.

Legionnaires’ disease is a “pulmonary infection which mainly affects adults and more particularly vulnerable people”, according to the ARS. Among them, the elderly, suffering from chronic respiratory diseases or diabetes.

Only 10 cases per year in the department on average

This figure of 15 cases challenges the health authorities, whereas usually, there are only regarding 10 cases per year for the whole of the Ardennes department.

Investigations are underway to determine the origin of the contamination. Led by the ARS Grand Est, Public Health France Grand Est and by the Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing (DREAL), they should make it possible to determine the appropriate measures to be put in place to circumscribe and curb the infection.

The ARS specifies that all the health establishments and liberal health professionals in the agglomeration have been informed of the situation.

An infection that needs to be treated quickly

Legionnaires’ disease is manifested by symptoms associated with a flu-like state, such as coughing or difficulty breathing. These signs are accompanied by possible diarrhea, muscle pain or severe fatigue.

If the patient is taken care of quickly, the infection is cured very well with a dose of antibiotics, otherwise the disease evolves in a short time into pneumopathy, that is to say an infection of the lungs. In many cases, the patient must then be hospitalized.

Contamination is mainly through the respiratory route, but is never transmitted from one person to another. It is not related to the consumption of tap water.