In Hong Kong a case of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) affected a man aged 62. The government reported (1) that the patient, with underlying illnesses, presented with fever, headache, cough with sputum and shortness of breath 7 July 2014 and was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital on 8 July for management. His clinical diagnosis was pneumonia and he was discharged on 15 July in stable condition.
24 July 2014
Nine (9) days after the patient was discharged, the positive for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antibody was reported (according the government on 24 July 2014) and ONLY then can the Legionnaires’ disease (LD) investigation commence. This case adds to the evidence that Legionnaires’ disease is often mis-diagnosed as pneumonia.
Risk Management
Legionella is a potentially fatal disease and building owners need to be vigilant.
Source:
- http://www.news.gov.hk/en/categories/health/html/2014/07/20140724_182119.shtml
- http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/35733.html