Travel-associated legionellosis in Spain, 1997-2002

Legionelosis asociada con viajes en España, serie 1997-2002

Objective: analyze the development of the disease in Spain during the years 1997-2002, by raw numbers, and their relationship with the European Surveillance Scheme for Travel Associated Legionnaires' Disease. Legionellosis is a respiratory disease that can be fatal. In Spain it is considered notifiable since 1995. In 1986 The European Working Group for Legionella Infections was established and following year the European Surveillance Scheme for Travel Associated Legionnaires' Disease. Materials and methods: Descriptive study by cases, outbreaks and deaths collection (period 1997-2002) from the reports of the National Epidemiology Center. Results: Community exposure, nosocomial infection and travel-acquired infection is determined. The last affects at total value in all scenes and especially outbreaks, cases and deaths in 1997, 1998 and 2000. Great records for the disease in the period occurred at 2002 (62 outbreaks), 2001 (772 cases) and 2000 (25 deaths). Conclusions: epidemiological surveillance is a valuable tool for the prevention and control of legionellosis. Time series analysis can display significant information about the evolution of disease and sources of development of biological agent.