Legionnaires’ disease in Europe, 2013
This surveillance report is based on the 2013 disease surveillance data collected by the European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network.
The Network collects standard surveillance data on Legionnaires’ disease from EU Member States plus Iceland and Norway, but also operates a second system which covers travel-associated cases of Legionnaires’ disease (TALD), including cases recorded outside the EU/EEA.
The surveillance of TALD aims primarily at identifying clusters of cases that may otherwise not have been detected at the national level, and at enabling timely control measures at the implicated accommodation sites in order to prevent further infections.
Executive summary
With 5 851 cases reported, the notification rate of LD in the EU/EEA in 2013 was 11.4 cases per million population, well within the range observed in the past five years. Six countries (France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands) have continuously reported the majority of LD cases (accounting for approximately 80%), while only representing two-thirds of the EU/EEA population. The share of the three largest reporting countries (France, Italy and Spain) has slightly decreased over time.The main characteristics of the cases reported in 2013 were very similar to those reported in previous years: most cases were sporadic and community-acquired, and the disease affected mostly older males. At 10%, the case-fatality ratio was also at the same level as observed in previous years.
In 2013, 787 travel-associated cases of Legionnaires’ disease (TALD) were reported, 5% below the number of cases reported in 2012, continuing a slightly decreasing trend since 2007. Five countries (France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom) reported three quarters of all TALD cases.
Two distinct LD surveillance systems are currently in place. One is based on annual passive reporting of all LD cases, the other one on daily reporting of TALD cases.
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Publication data
Data
Legionnaires’ disease in Europe 2013
Microsoft Excel file containing 2013 disease surveillance data collected by the European Legionnaire's Disease Surveillance Network and used in ECDC's surveillance report of Legionnaire's disease in Europe 2013.
Data
Reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease by month of onset, EU/EEA, 2008–2013
Legionnaires’ disease in Europe 2013 - Reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease by month of onset, EU/EEA, 2008–2013
Data
Reported cases and notifications of Legionnaires’ disease per million, by reporting country, EU/EEA, 2013
Legionnaires’ disease in Europe 2013 - Reported cases and notifications of Legionnaires’ disease per million, by reporting country, EU/EEA, 2013
Data
Number of travel-associated cases of Legionnaires’ disease reported to ELDSNet, by year, 1987–2013
Legionnaires’ disease in Europe 2013 - Number of travel-associated cases of Legionnaires’ disease reported to ELDSNet, by year, 1987–2013
Data
Number of accommodation site visits connected with travel-associated cases of Legionnaires’ disease per destination country, EU/EEA and neighbouring countries, 2013
Legionnaires’ disease in Europe 2013 - Number of accommodation site visits connected with travel-associated cases of Legionnaires’ disease per destination country, EU/EEA and neighbouring countries, 2013 (n=835)
