Britons face an increased daily risk from Legionnaires’ Disease.
The latest figures published by Public Health England (PHE) confirm there were 503 cases of Legionnaires’ Disease in 2019 for England and Wales – an average of almost 10 cases a week.
In December there were 36 recorded cases.
A leading water hygiene expert has warned that the country is facing a ‘potential time bomb’ with a substantial increase in Legionnaires’ disease cases fuelled by climate change as it is creating the ideal breeding ground.
Steven Morris managing director of Legionella Safe Services, experts in Legionella prevention, believes the UK should be braced for more cases of people falling to the deadly disease as a result of rising temperatures caused by climate change.
“We have seen a huge increase in confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ Disease,” said Morris.
“If this continues, we face a potential time bomb, with the threat to public health likely to escalate. It appears as a particularly nasty form of pneumonia with the young, elderly and immune compromised among those most at risk.
“Rising temperatures due to Global Warming is one of many factors increasing the Legionella risk within properties across the UK.”
PHE figures also indicate that the severity of cases increased over the summer months as temperatures soared to new levels.
Met Office figures, published last month, show the previous decade was the second hottest of the last 100 years. The UK experienced its highest ever temperature last year when 38.7°C was recorded in Cambridge on July 25th.
Meanwhile, confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the UK over a similar period increased by over 40 per cent.
However, holidaymakers and travellers are also at risk from venturing to countries with warmer climates, as they are also witnessing a rise in cases.
The PHE 2019 figures show that 207 of the reported cases (40 per cent) were contracted overseas, while 51 cases (10 per cent) were contracted while travelling in the UK.
The potentially fatal illness is spread via the legionella bacteria, which thrives within a specific temperature range in water systems.
Legionella can survive within a temperature range broadly between 20-50°C – and proliferate in just 24 hours if water temperatures are around 37.5°C. If inhaled into the lungs via water droplets, less than five microns, it causes Legionnaires’ Disease.
In all forms of man-made water systems – Legionella can multiply and become dangerous, when the above parameters are compromised.
LegionellaSafe work with a range of Industry sectors across housing, health, education, local authorities and facilities management to keep the disease under control.
Morris added: “It will always be prudent to remain vigilant to any changing factors that could increase the risk of legionnaires disease.
“Our advice is ensure risk assessments are up to date as well as monitoring the trend of temperature records.
“The key to legionella compliance is to understand what actions to take should any temperatures or water samples are outside parameters.”
About LegionellaSafe Services
We are national experts in Legionella prevention – and passive fire protection.
We work with our clients to ensure their water systems are legally compliant, and their properties are safe for staff, customers and the public. We also provide a passive fire protection service to keep your people safe from smoke and flames.
We work with individual care homes and care home groups to ensure they are always one hundred per cent Legionella safe. Care homes look after our most vulnerable citizens. We work both sensitively and appropriately in care home environments. Our consultants and technicians are trained to respect the dignity of all individuals.
Within healthcare
Healthcare facilities, including dental practices, have some of the most high-risk environments for Legionella bacteria. They have highly intensive and complex water and heating systems. They are also visited by potentially highly-vulnerable people. We work with healthcare organisations, both private and public, and dentists, to ensure full compliance with Legionella legislation, from Legionella risk assessment through to full monitoring programmes.
LegionellaSafe has a highly-skilled team of corporately-trained technicians and consultants, led by a senior management team with nearly 30 years of water industry experience.
You can trust us to deliver high quality service, backed by an assurance that we will always give you the best, and most transparent advice. So, your premises will stay Legionella-free and safe for your staff, customers and the wider public.
We are experienced and expert at using all appropriate legislation and regulations to deliver our Legionella advice and services, including:
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974; ACOP L8; Water Supply Regulations 1999; Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999; Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002; HSG274 Part 1, 2 and 3; BS:8580 – Risk Assessment Standards; and Health Technical Memorandum 04-01.
LegionellaSafe is a national service, with offices in the West Midlands, London, Manchester and Scotland.
For further information, please visit LegionellaSafe Services, call 0808 133 0131 or email info@legionellasafeservices.co.uk
