Legionnaire's Disease in European Travellers Returning from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
26 May 2017
There has been an increase in legionnaire’s disease in travellers returning from Dubai between 1 October 2016 and 23 May 2017.
A total of 60 lab-confirmed cases has been reported from: the United Kingdom (29 cases), Sweden (8), the Netherlands (6), Denmark (4), France (3), Germany (3), Austria (1), Belgium (1), the Czech Republic (1), Hungary (1), Ireland (1), Spain (1) and Switzerland (1). Fifty –four of these people stayed in hotels or apartments, while six stayed in private accommodation.
The number of cases reported in the past six weeks is likely to be underestimated.
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.
- fitfortravel Respiratory Infections