According to multiple media reports, a 57-year-old woman from Hull has been in the intensive care unit at Venizeleio Hospital in Heraklion since 11th June, after contracting Legionnaires’ disease during an all-inclusive holiday in Crete.The hotel is reportedly cooperating with local health authorities, while the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has issued an emergency alert in response to the confirmed case.1

As thousands of Britons prepare to head abroad on their summer holidays in the coming weeks, leading Legionella authority Hydrosense is calling on hotels, resorts, and holiday operators to prioritise robust water safety management and rapid testing protocols.

Greg Rankin, Hydrosense CEO comments: “Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case - there have been multiple reports of Legionella outbreaks in hotels abroad and on cruise ships in recent years. When it comes to Legionnaires’ disease, prevention is always better than cure. This outbreak highlights the urgent need for regular and more robust environmental testing for Legionella to reduce risk, protect customers and staff, and avoid costly investigations and reputational damage.”

In 2021 alone, the EU/EEA reported 895 travel-associated Legionella cases - a 38% increase over the previous year - highlighting a growing public health risk as international travel rebounds and climate conditions become increasingly favourable for bacterial growth.2

Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal lung infection caused by inhaling droplets of water contaminated with Legionella bacteria. The bacteria can be found in a wide range of man-made water systems, including taps, showers, air conditioning units, pools and hot tubs.

While Legionella can exist throughout the entire year, the bacteria thrive in water temperatures between 20°C and 45°C. This makes the summer months a particularly high-risk period, especially when combined with stagnant water in systems that have not been used regularly - such as hot tubs, spa pools, and holiday homes.

To help mitigate this risk, Hydrosense offers rapid, on-site Legionella testing solutions that deliver accurate results within just 25 minutes - allowing businesses and property managers to act quickly and prevent potential outbreaks before they occur.