British holidaymakers warned about Legionella risk after outbreak in Crete

Following reports of a Legionella outbreak in Crete, British holidaymakers have been warned about the increasing risk of contracting the disease abroad. The outbreak in Crete saw a 57-year-old woman from Hull hospitalised in Heraklion after getting ill with Legionnaires’ disease. The hotel where she stayed is cooperating with local health authorities to detect the source of the infection. Meanwhile, leading Legionella authority Hydrohawk has reminded thousands of British travellers to pay attention to the risk of the disease and exercise caution when using holiday accommodation abroad. Greg Rankin, Hydrohawk CEO, also recommended bringing on holiday a rapid Legionella testing kit for peace of mind. The testing kit delivers accurate results in 25 minutes, helping to protect the holidaymakers’ health.
In 2021 alone, the EU/EEA reported 895 travel-associated Legionella cases, a 38% increase compared to 2020. The increase in cases is also due to climate change that favours the spread of the Legionella bacteria. Indeed, these bacteria thrive in high water temperatures, making the summer months a particularly high-risk period. They can be found in a wide range of man-made water systems, including showers, air conditioning units, spa pools, and hot tubs.