Newborn hospitalized with Legionnaires' disease in Nicosia

A 20-day-old infant is in critical condition at the Makarios Hospital in Nicosia after being diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease. The infection was detected following the infant's birth at a private clinic, where initial water supply testing subsequently identified the presence of the bacterium Legionella pneumophila.

In response to the confirmed diagnosis, the Ministry of Health has ordered the temporary suspension of operations at the private clinic to conduct comprehensive environmental inspections and water system disinfections. All other newborns previously housed at the facility have been transferred to other hospitals as a precautionary measure. Epidemiological surveillance has been intensified, and health authorities have notified medical units and pediatricians across the region. While this incident has evoked memories of a 2008 outbreak in Cyprus, officials have confirmed that no other cases linked to this clinic have been identified thus far.

The infant remains on mechanical ventilation in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and is receiving specialized antibiotic treatment. Investigations into the exact source of contamination within the facility’s water systems are ongoing, with results expected to guide further decisions regarding the potential reopening of the clinic.