BUSAN — Busan is stepping up environmental testing to curb the spread of Legionnaires' disease as summer drives up the use of air conditioners, cooling towers and other water systems.
The city said on the 9th that it will conduct intensive testing for Legionella bacteria through the end of this month, working with its 16 districts and counties to sample cooling tower water and water and hot-water supply systems at hospitals, lodging facilities, large buildings and other places used by the public.
Legionnaires' disease is a Class 3 notifiable infectious disease contracted by inhaling fine water droplets, or aerosols, from cooling tower water, water and hot-water supply systems, showerheads, faucets and hot tubs contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Symptoms include fever, chills, coughing, muscle pain, headaches and difficulty breathing. Older adults, people with chronic lung disease, smokers and those with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness. The disease generally does not spread from person to person.
Busan has recorded 86 cases of Legionnaires' disease over the past five years, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's infectious disease portal. Of those, 35 were concentrated between July and October, when the use of air conditioners and water systems increases. Because summer through early autumn is the main period for infections, managing water systems at each facility is the key to prevention, the city said.
The city also carried out preemptive environmental testing this year ahead of large international events. From April to May, it collected and tested 119 environmental samples of cooling tower water and water and hot-water supply systems at 25 sites, including 23 lodging facilities and two event venues. No Legionella bacteria were detected.
Ahead of events drawing large numbers of domestic and foreign visitors, including the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the city inspected water systems at lodging facilities and major venues in advance to eliminate infection risks.
The city is continuing the testing with its 16 districts and counties under its inspection plan for water systems. District and county public health centers collect environmental samples at facilities and send them to the Busan Institute of Health and Environment for analysis. Facilities whose results exceed standards will be subject to follow-up measures such as cleaning, disinfection and retesting.
Preventive management by facility operators also matters. They should regularly clean and disinfect cooling towers, water storage tanks and water and hot-water supply systems, and maintain proper water temperatures and disinfectant levels to create conditions in which the bacteria cannot easily multiply.
"Legionnaires' disease can be prevented through thorough management of water systems and preemptive testing," said Cho Kyu-yul, head of the city's Citizens' Health Bureau. "We will continue to strengthen environmental testing and preventive management at facilities used by the public, and we ask facility operators to regularly clean and disinfect cooling towers and water and hot-water supply systems."
