Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2003

4 new cases of legionellosis were announced Sat, 27 Dec 2003, by the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais, bringing the number of patients with this serious pulmonary infection to 42, including 4 deaths, since the end of November 2003.

The 4 new people infected are 2 elderly men of 88 and 83 years living in Henin-Beaumont and in Montigny-in-Gohelle, respectively, and 2 women 72 and 81 years old, living in Henin-Beaumont and Fouquieres-les-Lens. These patients showed the first symptoms of the infection (the usual time of incubation varies from 2-10 days) between the 20 and 23 Dec 2003. They were hospitalized in the hospital complex of Lens and the polyclinic of Henin-Beaumont.

For more information, contact:

Alan L. Wozniak, CIAQP

(800) 422-7873 ext. 802