Legionnaire’s disease outbreak in Portugal – Deaths now stand at 7 and cases are reported at over 300

In the latest update from Portugal’s health board it was reported that seven people have now died and that the total number of cases is now over 300. with many said to be in critical condition from Legionnaire’s disease in the latest outbreak of Legionella the bacterium which which causes Legionnaire’s disease. The majority of cases so far have emerged from the central Portuguese region of Vila Franca de Xira and are being treated in hospitals in the Greater Lisbon area.

The geographical spread of cases is not made clear from the press releases and it has to be considered that despite comments that legionella outbreaks are very unusual in Portugal, there may have been more than one source.