Dual Legionella outbreaks strike Austria and Switzerland simultaneously
Dual Legionella outbreaks across Austria and Switzerland kill three, sicken 26.
Event / Health
Central Europe Legionellosis Outbreaks
Legionellosis outbreaks in Linz, Austria (26 cases, 3 deaths since July 20) and Basel, Switzerland (26 cases, 1 death in early August), with Legionella bacteria detected in cooling tower systems.
2 reported locations
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2026-08-21 to 2026-11-10 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 21 Aug, 13:52 UTC
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What happened
Legionellosis outbreak in Basel, Switzerland affects 26 people
The Swiss city of Basel announced a legionellosis outbreak that affected 26 people, with one death reported. This outbreak occurred in early August.
Legionella outbreak in Linz, Austria kills three people
Three people died and 26 people fell ill in a legionellosis outbreak in the Linz region of northwestern Austria, announced by Austrian health authorities on Friday. The outbreak began on July 20. Twenty-four of the sick were hospitalized, some in intensive care. Two additional infected people live abroad but had stayed in Linz before their infection.
Legionella bacteria detected in cooling towers of Linz company
Analyses of cooling towers at an enterprise in Linz revealed the presence of Legionella bacteria, the agent responsible for legionellosis. However, Austrian health authorities stated that despite ongoing investigations and preliminary results, it cannot yet be definitively confirmed that the responsible source has been identified.
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