legionella is to blame, says PAHO

(CNN) — A cluster of pneumonia cases in Tucuman, Argentina, has been confirmed to be caused by legionella, according to an update from the Pan American Health Organization.

PAHO reported in the saturday update that the Argentine Ministry of Health reported that legionella, specifically the bacterium L. pneumophila, had caused cases of pneumonia associated with a health clinic in the city of San Miguel de Tucumán.

As of Saturday, a total of 11 pneumonia cases have been identified as part of this outbreak, including four deaths in patients with underlying health conditions. Health authorities are now investigating the source of the legionella, according to PAHO.

“The Argentine Ministry of Health and the provincial health authorities are working to identify the source and implement the appropriate control measures. They are collecting environmental samples, conducting risk assessments and implementing actions in the health clinic related to the outbreak,” the statement said. update. “PAHO provides support to the Argentine health authorities from its Headquarters and the PAHO Representation in Argentina to investigate and characterize the outbreak.”

Legionnaires’ disease or legionellosis is a serious type of pneumonia caused by the bacteria legionella, and people can often get sick when they breathe in small droplets of water containing legionella, causing an infection in the lungs. The disease can be treated with antibiotics.