UKHSA Health Protection Briefing Note 2025/023: Cluster of Legionnaires’ Disease cases associated with Sergios Hotel in Hersonissos in Crete, Greece
Summary
In the last month, four confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been associated with Sergios Hotel in Hersonissos in Crete, Greece. The cases are from Scotland, Wales and one region in England.The four cases stayed at the same hotel between 30 April and 19 May 2025,
and had symptom onset in a 2 week-period (ending 1 June). This potentially indicates a rapidly evolving cluster (defined as three cases within three months of each other’s date of symptom onset). The sequence type for these Legionella pneumophila cases is not currently known. While there is an association between Legionnaires’ disease occurrence and stays at this hotel, the hotel itself has not been confirmed as the source of infection. The Greek public health authorities have been informed of the cluster via the International Health Regulations, National Focal Point (IHRNFP). WHO, ECDC and Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) have also been informed.
Clinicians should be alert to any patients that present with symptoms suggestive of Legionellosis (including muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever) with a history of recent travel to Hersonissos in Crete. In these cases, it is recommended that appropriate diagnostic tests are performed. These
consist of urinary antigen tests and wherever possible, sputum samples should be obtained for PCR/culture. Please notify any suspected Legionnaires’ disease case to the relevant health protection team (HPT) as soon as possible.