Legionella Bacteria Exceed Standards at 25 Multi-Use Facilities in Seoul

Inspection of 250 Multi-Use Facilities Including Large Buildings, Hospitals, and Bathhouses from April to August

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 24th that it conducted Legionella bacteria tests on 250 multi-use facilities, including large buildings, hospitals, and bathhouses, from April to August to prevent Legionellosis. It provided preventive management guidance such as cleaning and disinfection and conducted retests on 25 facilities that exceeded the standards.

The facilities where Legionella bacteria were detected above the standard included 15 large bathhouses and jjimjilbangs, 7 general hospitals and nursing hospitals, 2 senior welfare facilities, and 1 hotel and lodging facility. Legionella bacteria were not detected in large shopping centers, fountains, or railway vehicle stations.

Legionellosis is mainly caused by bacteria in warm and contaminated water, such as cooling tower water and bathtub water in large buildings, infecting the human body through respiratory droplets. It mainly occurs in people with weakened immunity, chronic lung disease patients, and smokers, showing symptoms similar to influenza and pneumonia. Legionellosis can be completely cured with early treatment, but if untreated, it has a fatality rate of 15-20%, requiring special caution.

The inspection targets include 12 types of facilities such as large buildings over 5,000㎡, bathhouses and jjimjilbangs over 330㎡, general hospitals, nursing hospitals, department stores and large shopping centers, lodging facilities over 2,000㎡, senior welfare facilities, and fountains.

For multi-use facilities where Legionella bacteria were detected above the standard, cleaning and disinfection are performed according to the detected bacterial count, followed by retesting. However, for multi-use facilities using circulating filtered bathtub water, administrative measures are taken for facilities exceeding the standard according to the Public Health Control Act.

Shin Yong-seung, director of the Seoul Institute of Health and Environment, said, “We conducted tests on cooling tower water and bathtub water in multi-use facilities and promptly took quarantine measures and retested facilities exceeding the standards.” He added, “Since citizens are increasingly concerned about infectious diseases in public places, we will do our best to prevent Legionellosis and protect citizens' health through regular inspections.”