WARSAW, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Poland's Internal Security Agency (ABW) is investigating whether an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease that has killed seven people in the south of the country might be the result of intentional tampering with the water system, authorities said here on Friday.
The bacteria that cause the illness have been found in 113 patients hospitalized in the southeastern city of Rzeszow and the surrounding area, health authorities said. The seven people who have died were aged between 64 and 95 years and had other health conditions.
Stanislaw Zaryn, acting deputy coordinator of the ABW's special services, told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that the investigation is a routine to rule out intentional activity.
RMF, a private radio station in Poland, also reported on Friday that agency officers were checking local water systems and that so far they had found no reason to suspect sabotage. Rzeszow Mayor Konrad Fijolek said on Thursday that the authorities were also testing water samples for Legionella bacteria and that the results would be known on Monday.
Legionnaires' disease, caused by the Legionella bacteria, can result in a severe form of pneumonia. The most common form of transmission is inhalation of contaminated aerosols produced in conjunction with water sprays, jets or mists of contaminated water sources, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). ■