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Legionnaire's Disease in European Travellers Returning from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) (Update)

26 Jun 2017

Cases of legionnaire's disease continue to be reported in European travellers returning from Dubai. Since 1 October 2016 there have been 65 cases, including 2 deaths. All had visited Dubai within 2–10 days before illness. The most recent case is reported to have become ill on 25 May 2017.

Cases have been reported by the United Kingdom (30), Sweden (8), Germany (6), the Netherlands (6), Denmark (4), France (4), Austria (1), Belgium (1), the Czech Republic (1), Hungary (1), Ireland (1), Spain (1) and Switzerland (1).

The number of cases reported in the past six weeks is likely to be underestimated. Fifty-nine of the cases stayed at hotels or rental apartments and six stayed in private accommodation.

Advice to travellers

All travellers are potentially at risk of infection, the risk is increased in travellers with underlying medical conditions. Travelers staying in poorly maintained hotel/apartment accommodation may be at higher risk. Flushing through showers in hotels or institutions with hot water when they have not been used recently may help.

Travellers to outbreak areas should be advised to seek prompt medical advice if they develop an influenza-like illness with fever, cough or shortness of breath during their stay or up to two weeks after return home.