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Legionella outbreak in Linz and Leonding, Austria

Updated 6 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-29 07:04 UTC → 2026-08-29 17:01 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Health authorities in Linz and Leonding, Upper Austria, are investigating a Legionella outbreak that has caused 31 32 confirmed illnesses and three deaths since July 20. As of late August, ~~four~~ five individuals remain hospitalized, with one patient in intensive care. Investigations have expanded beyond the initial findings at a Linz AG cooling tower, where Legionella pneumophila (subtype Allentown) was identified. Recent testing of a cooling system at a commercial facility in Leonding also returned a positive result for the bacteria. This ~~follows the discovery~~ system has since been shut down and disinfected. While a separate cooling system in an industrial area east of the ~~bacteria in three other cooling systems.~~ A7 motorway also tested positive for Legionella, microbiological and epidemiological analyses indicate there is “no current link” between that facility and the ongoing outbreak. To pinpoint the exact source, health officials, including the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), have collected ~~over 190~~ approximately 200 water samples from various locations, including workplaces, households, and accommodation businesses. While genetic testing continues to determine if ~~these~~ specific systems are the primary cause, authorities are working with affected companies to implement disinfection measures. The incident has prompted calls from TÜV Austria for a centralized register of cooling towers in Vienna, similar to German systems, to allow authorities to “rapidly identify and inspect potential sources during an outbreak.”

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