Dangerous disease has doubled in five years

In five years, the number of danes who are affected by the potentially fatal legionnaires ' disease, doubled. And the Danish State serum institute does not know why.

It writes TV2.

Legionella bacteria, which can give legionnaires ' disease, has been found in several apartments in the association Section 74 (Disease/Nørreports 98 apartments in Aarhus.

It tells the project manager in the Workers ' Cooperative Morten Strunge for TV2.

- We have found that there are a few occasions where there is legionella in the water system, says project manager in the Workers ' Cooperative Morten Strunge, to TV 2.

Legionella is a bacterium that occurs naturally in the water. Bathe in water with legionella, you are infected, if you breathe the water when it evaporates.

the Disease is a dangerous type of pneumonia, which provides fever, headaches and sore muscles, but can the opposite not just be cured with penicillin.

Legionnaires ' disease is taken very seriously, why patients are often hospitalized. It explains the senior researcher at the Statens Serum Institut Søren Uldum for TV2.

- It is a serious disease. Most of the cases, as we get reports on, are hospitalized – and it is often a relatively long hospitalization. And the mortality rate is high still, says researcher for TV 2.

- We could actually see a decrease in mortality over the years. Although our diagnostics have improved, there is still a mortality rate of 10-15 percent.

In 2013 was 113 danes affected by legionnaires ' disease, but last year the figure had risen to 264. The Danish state serum institute may not, however, explain why.

- We do not actually know why we have seen here, the increase over the past five years, says Søren Uldum to TV 2.

Legionnaires ' disease strikes typically the elderly and debilitated. About twice as often hitting the men compared to women. There are very rarely infected from person to person, writes the Statens Serum Institute on their website.

Tips and guides Your mouth to reveal deadly diseases: Keep an eye out for these signs

the Body and the training ground-breaking new study: How can hereditary overweight treated

Body and workout Itchy scalp can give permanent hair loss: the Cure is quite simple