The situation affects five buildings in the Amizkarra area and nearby streets, such as Valladolid. In total, the warning impacts approximately 250 to 300 homes and around a thousand residents, according to information provided to the communities. Currently, there are no confirmed cases of legionellosis among the affected residents.
The sample in which the bacteria was detected was taken on May 27th in a shower at Amizkarra street 3. The presence of legionella was confirmed on Friday, June 5th, and subsequently communicated to the management companies of the affected communities. The alert warns of a high risk that the bacteria may be present in other parts of the installation, as it is a shared hot water system.
Several residents have criticized that the communication did not reach all buildings simultaneously. According to their accounts, one community received the alert on Friday, while others were not informed until Monday, June 8th. During that weekend, some residents continued to use hot water normally.
The communities will need to carry out a cleaning and disinfection of the sanitary hot water system. This includes emptying, cleaning, and disinfecting the accumulator. After the treatment, it is recommended to conduct a new analysis after 15 days to verify if the bacteria has disappeared.
Legionella typically thrives in water systems under specific conditions of temperature, stagnation, or insufficient maintenance. In the affected buildings, the issue is concentrated in the communal hot water circuit. Legionellosis is not transmitted from person to person or by drinking water. The risk arises from inhaling small droplets of contaminated water, for example, during a shower.
The illness can cause high fever, cough, difficulty breathing, muscle aches, and digestive symptoms. The risk is higher for the elderly, individuals with respiratory problems, the immunocompromised, or those with pre-existing conditions. Therefore, while the outbreak is being resolved, it is recommended to exercise extreme caution in showers, avoid directly inhaling steam, and consult healthcare professionals if compatible symptoms appear.
The alert has caused concern among residents, particularly because many elderly people live in the affected buildings. The main worry lies in the time elapsed between sample collection and full communication to all communities. The case also highlights the importance of maintaining communal hot water systems, which require regular checks and preventive treatments to reduce the risk of legionella. Vitoria-Gasteiz has registered other outbreaks in private and communal facilities in recent years.
