LEGIONELLA - World Health Organization

Box . (cont nued)
Since the inception of the surveillance scheme, an increasing number of countries have
participated. Countries also provide information on the number and type of outbreaks
detected each year and the sources of infection (Joseph, 2004b). These surveillance data
are extremely useful for:
• comparing incidence rates between countries of similar population size and population density
• comparing the number and size of outbreaks detected
• assessing the effect of national guidance and legislation on the control and prevention
of Legionella infection in the different countries.
Table 9.2 lists cases of Legionnaires’ disease reported to EWGLI in Europe from 1993 to 2004. In
2004, 33 countries provided annual data; their reported cases are summarized in Table 9.3.
Table . Reported cases of Leg onna res’ d sease n Europe, – 00
Year No. of cases
No. of
countr es
contr but ng data
LEGIONELLA AND THE PREVENTION OF LEGIONELLOSIS
Populat on
(m ll ons) Rate per m ll on
1993 1242 19 300 4.14
1994 1161 20 346 3.35
1995 1255 24 339 3.70
1996 1563 24 350 4.46
1997 1360 24 351 3.87
1998 1442 28 333 4.33
1999 2136 28 398 5.38
2000 2156 28 400 5.38
2001 3470 29 455 7.60
2002 4696 32 466 10.1
2003 4578 34 468 9.8
2004 4588 35 557 8.2