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Towers of the two Matosinhos companies closed a week ago as a precaution. The result of the analysis should arrive this Thursday or Friday.
Two cooling towers in Longa Vida, in Perafita, and Ramírez, in Lavra, both in the municipality of Matosinhos, were closed on suspicion of being the source of contamination in the legionella outbreak that has already caused dozens of infections and killed nine people in that municipality. , in Vila do Conde and Póvoa de Varzim. The results of the comparative analyzes are expected to be known this Thursday or Friday. This Wednesday, three more infected were admitted to the Pedro Hispano Hospital, in Matosinhos. In total, there are already 75. So far, the outbreak has killed nine people.
According to the Northern Regional Health Administration (ARS), the two cooling towers were closed last Thursday (12). In both cases, the first legionella tests were positive. The comparative analyzes with the secretions of the patients must now be awaited. Only then will it be possible to compare strains of bacteria and accurately determine the focus of infection. The tests are being carried out at the National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge.
Long Life is collaborating
In a statement, Longa Vida admits that it is one of the cases. “Following the instructions of the Health Authority and in its presence, as a preventive measure, Longa Vida immediately closed its cooling towers,” he says. The Nestlé group company guarantees that it makes “all the controls required by law in its towers” and that it is collaborating with the Health Authority so that “the situation is quickly clarified.” Ramírez also confirmed to JN that he had to close a cooling tower on the recommendation of the Health Authority.
The ARS refused to reveal which towers were deactivated, but JN knew that, after analyzing the origin of the cases and the winds, the inspections focused on the Unión de Parroquias Perafita, Lavra and Santa Cruz do Bispo, in Matosinhos.
ARS explained that the geographic dispersion of the cases is “compatible with an environmental source” – discarding the hypothesis that the outbreak is related to drinking water -, enhanced “by the climatic changes of the Bárbara depression”, which hit Portugal October 19 and 20.
The Chamber of Matosinhos says it is “closely monitoring the development of the outbreak with concern.” Regardless of the municipality where these facilities are located, the important thing is that the outbreak has been identified and that this situation can be overcome soon. The Municipality has all the necessary means to act, if they are requested by the health entities responsible for the management of the case, ”he guarantees in a statement.
This Wednesday, the number of infected rose to 75. Three more cases were admitted to the Pedro Hispano Hospital, in Matosinhos.
Notable dates
The Directorate General of Health says the first case was reported on October 29. A week later, there were only 17 in the Póvoa de Varzim / Vila do Conde Hospital Center. In a country where, on average, 200 cases occur each year, the concentration of patients was a concern.
Already with 50 infected to remember the great outbreak of 2014 in Vila Franca de Xira, JN advances the first conclusions of Saúde: a cooling tower, somewhere between the south of the municipality of Vila do Conde and the north of Matosinhos, is the most likely source of contamination.
The mayor of Matosinhos, Luísa Salgueiro, guarantees that the source of the contamination is not in the public water supply. Vila do Conde does the same two days later. The population demands answers. The chairmen of the board too. The DGS, ARS / North and the Health Delegation are silent.
The Public Ministry announces the opening of an investigation “aimed at investigating the causes of the outbreak.” The investigation takes place in Matosinhos. The owner of the tower in question incurs an environmental crime.
Interned
20 people are hospitalized in the Pedro Hispano (Matosinhos) and S. João (Porto) hospitals and in the Póvoa de Varzim / Vila do Conde Hospital with legionellosis. Nine people have already died, victims of this outbreak.
Parishes
Fajozes (Vila do Conde) and Lavra (Matosinhos) are the two parishes most affected by the outbreak. Between one and the other there are ten kilometers in a straight line. There are streets with several cases. There are still infected people in Modivas, Mindelo, Gião, Vilar do Pinheiro (Vila do Conde) and Perafita (Matosinhos)
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