Rising number of cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Switzerland
Keystone-SDA
The number of cases of Legionnaires’ disease has been rising in Switzerland since 2001. Older men are particularly affected, according to a situation report published by the Federal Office of Public Health at the end of January.
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The Basel Country cantonal laboratory has detected massive contamination by legionella during inspections of public showers in 2025. Several residents and one employee fell ill in a retirement and nursing home, the laboratory announced on Friday.
Since 1998, there has been an obligation to report positive findings of legionella. In its status report on Legionnaires’ disease, the Federal Office of Public Health notes an increase in the number of reported cases of the disease.
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Since 2020, the number of reported cases rose to 574 in 2023 and fell to 491 in 2024. According to the report, this corresponds to a rate of 5.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. With a rate of 13.9 cases, Ticino is particularly affected.
Adapted from German by AI/ts
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