Legionnaires’ disease - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2019
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ECDC’s annual surveillance reports provide a wealth of epidemiological data to support decision-making at the national level. They are mainly intended for public health professionals and policymakers involved in disease prevention and control programmes.
Executive Summary
- Legionnaires’ disease remains an uncommon and mainly sporadic respiratory infection with an overall notification rate in 2019 for the EU/EEA of 2.2 cases per 100 000 population.
- There is heterogeneity in notification rates between EU/EEA countries, with the highest rate reported by Slovenia (9.4 cases per 100 000 population).
- The annual notification rate increased in recent years, from 1.4 in 2015 to 2.2 cases per 100 000 population in 2019.
- There was a marginal decrease of less than 1% in the number of reported cases in 2019, compared with 2018.
- Four countries (France, Germany, Italy, and Spain) accounted for 71% of all notified cases in 2019.
- Males aged 65 years and above were most affected (8.4 cases per 100 000 population).
- Only 10% of cases were culture-confirmed (10%) probably meaning that disease caused by Legionella species other than Legionella pneumophila is under-estimated.
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Legionnaires’ disease - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2019
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