Legionnaires' disease outbreak linked to a cold-water source in Yorkshire, 2022

Alexander Thompson; Aston Quinney; Rob Johnston; Lauren Margrove; Jane Bradbury; Phil Roberts; Baharak Afshar; Gareth J. Hughes; Mercy Vergis

doi:10.1017/S0950268825100113

Legionnaires' disease outbreak linked to a cold-water source in Yorkshire, 2022

Alexander Thompson^*
, Aston Quinney
, Rob Johnston
, Lauren Margrove
, Jane Bradbury
, Phil Roberts
, Baharak Afshar
, Gareth J. Hughes
, Mercy Vergis

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We describe an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease linked to an exclusive cold-water source in a private residential setting in Yorkshire. The cold-water source was identified following microbiological testing of clinical and environmental samples. Legionella pneumophila was only detected in the cold-water system. Three cases were identified over the course of the outbreak: two confirmed and one probable. Conditions favourable to bacterial growth included system 'dead legs' and significant heat transfer to the cold-water system. We describe challenges in implementing control measures at the venue and highlight the importance of using enforcement powers, where necessary, to reduce risk.

Original language	English
Article number	e66
Journal	Epidemiology and Infection
Volume	153
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268825100113
Publication status	Published - 30 May 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s).

Keywords

Environmental health
Legionella
Legionnaires' disease
cold-water system
enforcement
heat transfer

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1017/S0950268825100113

Cite this

@article{667ad8dd9fde4cfab52fddb4d5a234d9,

title = "Legionnaires' disease outbreak linked to a cold-water source in Yorkshire, 2022",

abstract = "We describe an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease linked to an exclusive cold-water source in a private residential setting in Yorkshire. The cold-water source was identified following microbiological testing of clinical and environmental samples. Legionella pneumophila was only detected in the cold-water system. Three cases were identified over the course of the outbreak: two confirmed and one probable. Conditions favourable to bacterial growth included system 'dead legs' and significant heat transfer to the cold-water system. We describe challenges in implementing control measures at the venue and highlight the importance of using enforcement powers, where necessary, to reduce risk.",

keywords = "Environmental health, Legionella, Legionnaires' disease, cold-water system, enforcement, heat transfer",

author = "Alexander Thompson and Aston Quinney and Rob Johnston and Lauren Margrove and Jane Bradbury and Phil Roberts and Baharak Afshar and Hughes, \{Gareth J.\} and Mercy Vergis",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s).",

year = "2025",

month = may,

day = "30",

doi = "10.1017/S0950268825100113",

language = "English",

volume = "153",

journal = "Epidemiology and Infection",

issn = "0950-2688",

publisher = "Cambridge University Press",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Legionnaires' disease outbreak linked to a cold-water source in Yorkshire, 2022

AU - Thompson, Alexander

AU - Quinney, Aston

AU - Johnston, Rob

AU - Margrove, Lauren

AU - Bradbury, Jane

AU - Roberts, Phil

AU - Afshar, Baharak

AU - Hughes, Gareth J.

AU - Vergis, Mercy

PY - 2025/5/30

Y1 - 2025/5/30

N2 - We describe an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease linked to an exclusive cold-water source in a private residential setting in Yorkshire. The cold-water source was identified following microbiological testing of clinical and environmental samples. Legionella pneumophila was only detected in the cold-water system. Three cases were identified over the course of the outbreak: two confirmed and one probable. Conditions favourable to bacterial growth included system 'dead legs' and significant heat transfer to the cold-water system. We describe challenges in implementing control measures at the venue and highlight the importance of using enforcement powers, where necessary, to reduce risk.

AB - We describe an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease linked to an exclusive cold-water source in a private residential setting in Yorkshire. The cold-water source was identified following microbiological testing of clinical and environmental samples. Legionella pneumophila was only detected in the cold-water system. Three cases were identified over the course of the outbreak: two confirmed and one probable. Conditions favourable to bacterial growth included system 'dead legs' and significant heat transfer to the cold-water system. We describe challenges in implementing control measures at the venue and highlight the importance of using enforcement powers, where necessary, to reduce risk.

KW - Environmental health

KW - Legionella

KW - Legionnaires' disease

KW - cold-water system

KW - enforcement

KW - heat transfer

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105007169358

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/22eea39d-44c2-3f8d-9634-1016a60243c2/

U2 - 10.1017/S0950268825100113

DO - 10.1017/S0950268825100113

M3 - Article

C2 - 40442991

AN - SCOPUS:105007169358

SN - 0950-2688

VL - 153

JO - Epidemiology and Infection

JF - Epidemiology and Infection

M1 - e66

ER -

Legionnaires' disease outbreak linked to a cold-water source in Yorkshire, 2022

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this