Investigation continues into legionella infection of newborn in Nicosia

A newborn, hospitalized for approximately two weeks at the Makarios Hospital in Nicosia due to a Legionella infection, has been successfully extubated and is currently showing signs of improvement. The infant remains under close medical supervision, supported by non-invasive mechanical ventilation, as health authorities continue their rigorous investigation into the source of the pathogen.

Following the identification of the case, the Nicosia Polyclinic, where the infant was born, underwent a temporary suspension of operations. The facility has since reopened after completing comprehensive thermal and chemical disinfection and installing microbial-retention filters. While the Polyclinic issued a statement claiming that epidemiological investigations show no link between its water supply and the infant's illness, the Ministry of Health has officially clarified that no final conclusion has been reached.

Dr. Michalis Mendris, representing the Ministry’s Epidemiological Surveillance Unit, confirmed that samples from the clinic, the family home, and the infant have been sent to an ECDC-affiliated reference laboratory in France for specialized molecular sequencing. These definitive results, expected by next week, are required to establish whether the bacterium detected in the hospital matches the strain that infected the child.