Legionella Alert: Health Officials Urge Hot‑Water Flushing After Holidays

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A recent cluster of Legionella infections has pushed the issue back into public focus, prompting Austria’s public health authorities to remind residents how to reduce their risk. The Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK) warned on Wednesday that knowing transmission routes and early symptoms can make a crucial difference — and that returning from summer holidays is a particularly sensitive moment.

Hot‑Water Flushing Recommended After Time Away

When water pipes sit unused for days or weeks, warm and stagnant water can create ideal conditions for Legionella bacteria to multiply. ÖGK chief medical officer Andreas Krauter advised households to take simple precautions before stepping back into the shower.

“After a holiday, unused pipes should be flushed with hot water for three to five minutes before the first shower, and the room should be well ventilated afterward,” Krauter said. He added that maintaining a sufficiently high hot‑water temperature is essential. As a rule of thumb, boilers should be set to at least 60°C.

Legionnaires’ Disease: Severe Cases Possible

Legionella bacteria can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a serious form of bacterial pneumonia. Symptoms typically include high fever, cough and pronounced malaise. According to Krauter, severe cases occur more frequently among older adults, smokers and people with weakened immune systems or chronic lung conditions.

Risk Comes From Inhaling Aerosols — Not Drinking Water

Legionella occur naturally in water systems and thrive particularly well in stagnant water between 25°C and 45°C. They become dangerous when contaminated water is inhaled as fine spray — known as an aerosol. This can happen during showering, in whirlpools or through technical systems such as cooling towers.

Drinking water containing Legionella, however, is not considered a health risk, Krauter emphasized. Stomach acid typically destroys the bacteria, and person‑to‑person transmission does not occur.

Seek Medical Help for Severe Symptoms

Anyone experiencing strong symptoms or shortness of breath should seek medical attention promptly. The first point of contact is usually a general practitioner or the Gesundheitsberatung 1450, which provides telephone assessments. Infections are confirmed through laboratory testing. When multiple cases occur, authorities investigate potential shared sources of exposure.