Legionnaires' disease in residents of England and Wales: 1997

Two hundred and twenty-six residents of England and Wales who developed legionnaires' disease with onset of infection in 1997 were reported to the PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre. Twenty-eight cases (12%) were reported to have died. Half of the reported cases (114) were associated with travel, either abroad or in the United Kingdom. Six cases acquired infection in hospital and the remaining 106 were presumed to have acquired infection in the community. Nineteen cases were linked to industrial or community associated outbreaks or clusters in England, two cases to a hospital outbreak, and 25 cases to outbreaks or clusters abroad. The remaining 180 cases (80%) were reported as single cases. The proportion of cases diagnosed by detection of urinary antigen has continued to increase. In 1997 this method of diagnosis was included for 60% of confirmed cases and in 46% of all cases.