British travellers have been urged to take care (Image: Getty) British holidaymakers are being warned about an outbreak of a lethal disease that has already claimed four lives. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Foreign Office-supported Travel Health Pro website have both drawn attention to the issue. The ECDC has issued a new update confirming the presence of Legionnaires' disease in several areas within the metropolitan boundary of Milan - notably Corsico and Buccinasco - in the Lombardy Region of Italy.
At present, a dozen individuals are receiving hospital treatment. As of August 19, data indicates there have been 53 confirmed infections and four deaths. function loadOvpScript(){let el=document.
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READ NEXT Urgent warning as 'life-threatening' disease outbreak kills 3 in Italian city Infections have occurred in the region around Milan and the source has not yet been discovered (Image: Getty) The ECDC has reported cases ranging in age from 26 to 94, noting that all four of the deceased were over 70 years old and had additional health complications, reports Bristol Live . Currently, 12 patients are under hospital care, while 37 who were admitted have now been discharged; and officials have reported four deaths linked to the outbreak. Authorities are now conducting a thorough investigation to identify the source of an outbreak, with the ECDC stating: "Epidemiological, microbiological, and environmental investigations continue.
"Water samples have been collected from several sampling sites of the municipal water supply system, both from the private residence water systems of patients/control cases and from cooling towers." Trending SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding.
You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy "The collection of respiratory samples from patients and typing of isolated Legionella strains is ongoing to assist determination of the outbreak source. "Public health activities continue to be implemented to prevent transmission and emergence of new cases, including a chemical disinfection with chlorine of the municipal water supply system and of private residences.
" It has been noted that Legionnaires' disease, caused by water vapour laden with Legionella bacteria, significantly threatens those over 50, immunocompromised individuals, or people with existing health conditions..
