In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of reported cases of legionellosis (300 to 350 cases per year). The most likely explanation is the increased search for Legionella in cases of pneumonia. This is due to the increased awareness of doctors about the diagnosis and the better availability of diagnostic tests, in particular the urinary antigen test, which has been reimbursed under certain conditions since 1 September 2016.
In addition, weather conditions, such as heavy rainfall and high temperatures, can also influence the occurrence of legionellosis.
A higher incidence of legionellosis is observed in the Brussels-Capital Region. After all, the disease occurs more frequently in large cities, where the number of places at risk of legionellosis are considerably greater.
See the ‘Publications’ section at the bottom of this page for more figures.