Are You at Greater Risk From Legionnaires’ Disease When Travelling Abroad?

Have you ever wondered if you are more at risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease when travelling abroad?

In this article the water safety experts at Legionella Control International consider this question and review recent statistics from the UK’s Health Protection Agency.

They then go on to take a look at different types of holiday accommodation and whether some pose more problems than others, how local rules and regulations can differ, and conclude with a few practical tips for travellers that can help to reduce their risk of exposure to the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’.

Is there a greater risk from Legionnaires’ disease when travelling abroad?

The statistics compiled by various health agencies show that yes… you are more at risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease if you travel abroad.

The next question should be how much higher is the risk to those who wish to travel abroad.

• Learn more about Legionnaires’ disease

Public Health England and the National Surveillance Scheme

Public Health England (PHE) keeps track of all reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease in England and Wales, tracking how the cases came about.

PHE issues a monthly report as part of their National Surveillance Scheme, the latest of which was issued in April 2019.

This report states that 19 cases of the disease were confirmed to have developed during April 2019.

The same report confirmed 84 cases had occurred since the start of the year, their onset having developed since 1^st January.

Most interesting, however, is the quantity of cases in each instance that were found to have occurred after foreign travel.

How many cases of Legionnaires’ disease are associated with travel abroad?

Of the 19 cases arising in April 2019, 11 were found to have occurred during a foreign trip.

However, of the 84 cases occurring since the beginning of the year, 34 (40%) were found to have been caused abroad.

The Public Health England report also indicates that cases of Legionnaires’ disease typically begin to rise from May onwards.

The peak months for cases to occur are August and September, going by the mean three-year figures provided by PHE.

Peak months for cases of Legionnaires’ disease are August and September

Previous years have also seen figures confirming many cases stem from foreign travel.

For instance, in 2015 some 46% of all reported cases of Legionnaires’ occurring in the UK were found to have been triggered when travelling abroad.

The HPA report categorises other cases of the disease including community acquired, nosocomial, travel in the UK, and unassigned cases where it is unclear how the disease was contracted.

Are large hotels and cruise ships a bigger Legionnaires’ risk?

The larger a building is, the more complex its water systems are going to be so buildings and structures such as hotels, cruise ships, spa resorts and apartment blocks face particular challenges in controlling the spread of legionella.

This makes it more challenging to maintain the water systems in such facilities.

Proper and regular maintenance must be conducted if the water supply is going to be safe to use.

Cruise ships, hotels and similar accommodations are likely to have such complex water systems.

They may also incorporate facilities that use water including spas and hot tubs, swimming pools, water features, and other services that can pose a hazard if they are not properly maintained.

What about the risks in villas, apartments and private houses?

Yet it is not just the larger hotels and big cruise ships that are potentially at risk of an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease.

Much smaller forms of accommodation can also pose hazards to people.

Legionella bacteria love to grow and multiply in warm, stagnant water, for instance.

If a villa, boat, apartment, or other holiday accommodation stands empty for a few weeks, the water system, including taps, showers etc. should be thoroughly flushed through before anyone uses it.

If this is not done, there could be potentially dangerous levels of legionella lurking in the water system… and since you cannot see them, this could place unsuspecting holidaymakers at risk.

Swimming pools, spas and hot tubs can also pose hazards if they are not maintained and tested regularly.

Do other countries have the same level of legionella control legislation in place as the UK?

This will depend on the country someone is visiting… some countries have very strict laws covering the control of legionella, while others have very little.

There could be a scenario whereby someone fulfils all their duties and requirements by law in a foreign country, and yet those using the accommodation are still put at risk.

If the local legionella control standards are not good enough to prevent cases of Legionnaires’ disease arising, visitors can still end up going home with more than they bargained for!

What can you do about Legionnaires’ disease when abroad?

Many of us still prefer to visit warmer destinations when travelling outside of the UK.

However, these warmer temperatures may mean the conditions could be perfect for Legionella bacteria to thrive, especially when combined with some of the issues mentioned above.

This should not put anyone off booking a holiday abroad.

However, it is wise to make sure you book with a reputable and safe travel company or hotel operator rather than one you have never heard of.

They are more likely to have carried out checks to ensure the risks from Legionnaires’ are properly managed to keep the water systems clean and under control.

To be safe, you may also wish to run the taps and showers upon arrival at your accommodation, while vacating the rooms to ensure you do not breathe in the water vapour.

This will help to flush out any stagnant water from the system – just in case no one else has done so before you.

This alone could ensure you are far safer and less at risk of developing Legionnaires’ disease.

Expert Legionnaires’ and water safety specialists

Our teams of water safety specialists support those responsible for the control of waterborne pathogens including Legionella bacteria and Legionnaires’ disease in the workplace, helping them to protect people and meet their health and safety obligations in this specialist area.

We deliver professional water safety risk assessments for legionella and other waterborne pathogens, water testing, independent compliance auditing, City & Guilds training, expert witness and litigation support and other environmental risk management services that help keep people safe.

If you have questions about any of the issues raised above or you would like to speak with one of our specialists please call us today on 0330 223 36 87 or contact us here.