Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Linz claims three lives, cases rise to 26

Three patients have died amid an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the Linz region of Austria, the state of Upper Austria announced Thursday evening. The number of confirmed cases has climbed to 26 since the outbreak began on July 20, with four new cases reported recently. All 26 individuals from Upper Austria required hospitalization, with some treated in intensive care units.

Investigations into the source of the infections are ongoing. Last week, cooling towers belonging to a company in the Wiener Straße area were identified as a potential source, and analyses by the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) revealed significant contamination. However, officials stated that the responsible source has not yet been definitively identified, and further analysis results are pending.

In addition to the local cases, two individuals who contracted the disease had been in Linz before falling ill but reside abroad. The outbreak underscores the potential public health risks associated with contaminated water systems, particularly cooling towers, which can aerosolize bacteria and spread them over distances.