The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an alert on Tuesday for the outbreak of legionella that has occurred in the province of Tucumán since mid-August at the Luz y Fuerza Sanatorium.
In the first instance, the organism International highlighted that the cause of pneumonia is “the legionella bacterium”, and released several of the characteristics of the disease. At the time, the WHO issued a series of recommendations to prevent the spread of cases.
“Legionnaires’ disease is a pneumonia-like illness and varies in severity from a mild febrile state to a severe and sometimes fatal form of pneumonia. The most common way legionellosis is transmitted is the inhalation of contaminated aerosols from contaminated water sources,” explained the WHO.
Likewise, the United Nations organization maintained: “The causes linked to the transmission of legionella through aerosols and to outbreaks of legionellosis include air conditioning cooling towers or condensers associated with industrial refrigeration and air conditioning, hot and cold water systems, humidifiers, and whirlpool spas.
Regarding the cases that are registered in Tucumán, the organization recommended: “Continue with laboratory controls, case identification and clinical care, contact tracing, investigation of the outbreak to identify the source, application of measures to prevent new infections, and the improvement of infection prevention and control measures”.
It should be remembered that the health authorities of the province and the nation permanently monitor cases and, according to the latest report, 19 infections have been identified so far, of which there are nine with outpatient follow-up and four hospitalized.
Meanwhile, it was known that Representatives from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) will arrive in Tucumán in the next few hours to take samples and investigate how the outbreak began..
The WHO recommends not suspending trips to Argentina
The organism He detailed that the outbreak “is currently moderate”, so he does not recommend any different specific measure or restriction for travelers arriving in the country, and advised against “the application of any type of restriction to travel or trade with Argentina based on of the currently available information.
However, it recommended: “In the event of symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness during or after travel, travelers are encouraged to seek medical attention and share their travel history with their health care provider.”
