Five people have died so far in
the latest Legionella disease
outbreak in Fredrikstad in
Norway. But more deaths are
expected, say experts, as
Sweden prepares to raise its
defences against this outbreak
with laws and legislation.
“All the signs are there that
this will spread quickly, and I
fear that there will be many
illnesses” says Folke Blystad,
Chief Doctor at the Peoples
Health Institute in Dagbladet.
Eleven people were
hospitalised when the outbreak
was first recorded with a further
30 people reported to be
infected just two days later.
The Norwegian authorities
has not yet established the
source of the Legionella, but
believe it came from a cooling
tower in an air conditioning
ventilation system in the
shopping centre Ostfoldhallen
in Rolvsoy near Fredrikstad.
The complete cooling system
together with several others in
the area has been closed down
for a full inspection.
The Norwegian Health
Minister Ansgar Gabrielsen has
demanded a full investigation of
the situation in order to prevent
further outbreaks in the future.
