Legion fever cases rise in Maryland

16 November 2011 09:41

State-wide 131 cases of Legionnaires' disease have been reported so far in Maryland- US, figures show

State-wide 131 cases of Legionnaires' disease have been reported so far in Maryland- US, figures show

People travelling to Maryland in US might want to buy a comprehensive medical travel insurance policy after figures show that 131 cases of Legionnaires' disease, also known as 'Legion Fever' have been reported state-wide so far this year.

Frederick County Health Department says the toll in the county so far is higher than the total annual figures seen in the last five years, though it is still relatively low.

Darlene Armacost, program manager at the department said: "Typically, the bacterium Legionella that causes the disease grows in water and can be found in community living settings, air-conditioning systems or shower heads."

Ms Armacost added that eight confirmed cases of Legionnaire have been filed in Frederick.

Older people and those suffering from chronic lung disease or compromised immune systems are highly susceptible to the disease.

"One of the eight individuals was confirmed to have contracted the disease from an outbreak in an Ocean City hotel sometime in September or October," said Lisa Gudmundson, communicable disease and outbreak nurse for the county.

Copyright © Press Association 2011

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