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British tourists hit by deadly Legionella outbreak in Majorca
The UK Foreign Office has update its travel advice for Majorca after the outbreak of deadly Legionnaire’s disease on the Spanish island.
One British tourist has died and at least 17 others have come down with the water-born disease in the resort of Palmanova, close to Magaluf.
According to the National Travel Health Network, most of those infected are also British, but the identity of the deceased has not been revealed. He was a 70-year-old with other health conditions.
He died in Son Espases Hospital in Majorca’s capital Palma a week ago. He was also suffering from diabetes and Leukaemia.
Samples of the disease were found at a hotel where eight of the 18 people infected were staying.
Other hotels in the area, including those where those who have come down with the disease were staying, are being tested, along with a local water park, fountains and a beach showers.
The Foreign Office is advising Britons visiting Majorca to follow the advice of the National Travel Health Network and Centre.
Town hall bosses have shut down the water supply of the affected hotel ‘as a precaution’.
The Balearic Government’s regional health authority said: "Public health chiefs are investigating several cases of Legionnaires detected in the Palmanova area.
"From October 5 to the present date, we have been notified of 18 cases.
"All except three have been notified to us from the affected peoples’ countries of origin, as they developed their illness after they had completed their stay on the island.
"The majority of those affected have recovered or are getting better, except a man aged 70 who was suffering several illnesses including diabetes, Leukaemia and coronary heart disease and died in hospital on October 11."
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Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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