Death toll in southeast Poland from Legionnaires’ disease rises to 16

WARSAW (AA) - The death toll in southeast Poland from Legionnaires’ disease rose to 16 on Wednesday, according to health authorities.

An investigation continues into the outbreak in the region of Rzeszow near the Ukrainian border.

The head of the Rzeszow Sanitary Inspectorate, Jaromir Slaczka, said all 16 victims were already undergoing treatment for other medical conditions.

At least 155 infected people have been hospitalized nationwide since the outbreak.

The bacteria that causes Legionnaires disease, a type of pneumonia, was first identified in 1977 as the cause of an outbreak of severe pneumonia in 1976 at a convention center in the US.

The most common form of transmission is inhalation of contaminated aerosols produced in conjunction with water sprays, jets or mists of contaminated water sources, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO said that of the reported global cases, 75%-80% are older than 50 with 60%-70% male.

The bacteria also made headlines recently after asylum seekers were moved in early August from the UK's floating migrant barge, the Bibby Stockholm, after the bacteria was found in the on-board water system.