British tourists aged 73, 76 and 78 die after contracting disease
11 other people diagnosed with Legionnaires after staying at hotel
By Gerard Couzens
Three British pensioners have died after contracting Legionnaires' Disease while on holiday in Spain, health officials said.
The OAPs aged 73, 76 and 78-year-old all fell ill after staying in the same four-star beach hotel in Costa Blanca.
A further 11 people - seven British holidaymakers and four Spaniards - have also been hit by the disease.
Outbreak: The AR Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe where a total of 14 people have contracted Legionnaires' Disease
The AR Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe which is at the centre of the outbreak has been temporarily closed.
A regional health authority spokesman said: 'The results of our investigation into the cases of Legionnaires' Disease in Calpe show it's an outbreak which has so far affected 14 people, ten British tourists and four Spaniards.
'Recently we've learned tests on three British people aged between 73 and 78 suffering pneumonia who died in hospital showed they had contracted Legionnaires' Disease.
'The deaths occurred on January 26 and 31 and February 2.'
The pensioners aged 73 and 78 who passed away after getting Legionnaires' died from unrelated conditions. Only the death of the 76-year-old has been attributed to the disease.
Relatives of the three victims are thought to have flown to Spain to be by their bedsides before they died.
They were all on Saga holidays.
Of the remaining 11 people who contracted Legionnaires', five of them were treated in British hospitals after returning home. Four of them have been discharged.
The Spanish regional health authority said the hotel's water systems have been thoroughly treated since the outbreak.
Initial tests failed to find any trace of the disease but a further investigation is being carried out.
Saga sent their own expert out from the UK who recommended changes to the plumbing. However, he was also unable to find the source of the disease.
Saga have moved their guests to another hotel in the area.
Speaking yesterday when just one death had been attributed to the disease, Saga company spokesman Paul Green said: 'Sadly one of those who contracted Legionnaires' Disease passed away this morning.
'Our condolences go out to his family and we are doing all we can to support them in this difficult time.'
A regional health spokesman insisted last night: 'With the preventative closure of the hotel, we have the guarantee there's not going to be any new outbreak.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2095709/Three-British-pensioners-die-Legionnaires-Disease-outbreak-Spanish-beach-hotel.html#ixzz1lKTK6k3z
No comments:
Post a Comment