Last year, Finland recorded an unprecedented number of legionellosis cases, a serious illness caused by the Legionella bacteria, with 84 infections reported, nearly double the number from the previous year. According to the infectious disease register, the majority of patients required hospitalization, with 14 cases necessitating intensive care. Eeva Ruotsalainen, the deputy chief physician of infectious diseases at Hus, expressed the severity of the situation, noting that she has never seen such critical legionellosis patients in her career.

Ruotsalainen highlighted that the reasons for the increased number of cases are currently unclear, though most infections have been reported in the Uusimaa region. Legionellosis can range from asymptomatic infections to severe pneumonia, and it is not transmitted from person to person, which can complicate tracing its source. The specific strain of the bacteria found in most patients was identified as longbeachae.

Concern about the rising cases emerged last spring when two-thirds of those requiring intensive care were affected. The situation reflects a growing public health challenge, and health authorities are likely to investigate the outbreak further to identify risk factors and prevent future cases, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and possibly changes in public health policies regarding water supply and hygiene practices.