WARSAW (Euractiv/EuroEFE) – A Legionella outbreak at a NATO strategic center in Poland that transports weapons for Ukraine’s defense has raised alarm and raised suspicions of possible sabotage, according to local media reports.
The outbreak was discovered on August 17. in Rzeszow, Capital of the Polish Carpathian Voivodeship (province) and NATO Strategic Center11 people have been killed so far.
The Legionella outbreak has mobilized security at the Atlantic Alliance’s Polish hub, but its source has yet to be identified.
Legionnaires’ disease is a disease that cannot be contracted through contact with other people. According to experts, it is also not possible to catch the virus by ingesting contaminated water: a person can only contract the virus if they inhale aerosols produced by water contaminated with the bacteria, for example while showering.
This may be what happened during the Rzeszow outbreak: analysis showed that water from the city’s water system polluted with Legionella. While the city has confirmed that tap water may have been the cause of the outbreak, an investigation is ongoing to determine the source of the problem.
Over the weekend, Rzeszow’s water system was disinfected with 20 times the normal dose of chlorine. Municipal water companies perform this procedure once a year, but this time urgent action is necessary.
So far, the outbreak has killed at least 11 people and infected 144 (Monday data). Most of the dead are elderly.
Interestingly, Polish media reported isolated cases of Legionnaires’ disease in neighboring Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Lublin Voivodeship, and Greater Poland Voivodeship.
The United States played a key role in building the unity of the free world behind Ukraine. We need this unity to move forward. Europe needs to do more for its own security to repel any future conventional aggression. pic.twitter.com/mkBLBrd4Iq
— Zbigniew Rau (@RauZbigniew) August 19, 2023
destroy?
Legionella infection causes acute pneumonia. It is accompanied by general flu-like symptoms and may be accompanied by digestive problems such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Since Rzeszow is a city Strategic importance to NATO and enhanced protection – it is a transit center for Western weapons to Ukraine – the Polish Internal Security Service analyzes the situation to try to determine whether it is Destroyed.
Preliminary findings reported by Polish media earlier this weekend indicated that no third party was involved in the case.
Edited by F Heller