In 13 months, this is the second person in a social housing building located in Vénissieux to contract the disease. Salma Slim, 79, has been hospitalized in intensive care since April 7 and her life is in danger. His children point the finger at the residence’s water network, the cause of a legionella infection in March 2023. Alliade Habitat affirms that samples taken at his home turned out to be negative.
How did Salma Slim contract Legionnaires’ disease bacteria? La Vénissiana, aged 79, has been in a coma for more than 3 weeks, suffering from this serious lung condition. It was at her home – which she very rarely leaves – that she felt the first symptoms: severe cough and high fever.
The germ responsible for the disease is legionella: present in water and humid soils at low concentrations, this bacteria can grow and proliferate in water installations, particularly at temperatures between 25°C and 45°C. Contamination usually occurs by inhalation of fine droplets emanating from equipment such as showers, misters, humidifiers, oxygen therapy devices, whirlpool baths, or even cooling towers.
In fragile health, Salma uses a respirator, which can be a Source of exposure, but for those around her, there is no doubt that tap water was the vector of legionella. Indeed, a precedent exists in this building at 8 rue Gabriel Fauré, in the Minguettes district: in March 2023, a 70-year-old neighbor had to be hospitalized for a month for Legionnaires’ disease caught at home.
Analyzes carried out by Alliade Habitat confirmed the contamination of the domestic hot water network. The social landlord then ordered a chlorine shock and a complete purge to get rid of the bacteria. He also distributed filtering shower heads. Equipment that Mrs. Slim had adopted.
As soon as the alert was given by the family at the beginning of April, Alliade Habitat carried out new analyzes and advised its tenants avoid cooking with hot water, drinking it, and taking showers. Antibacterial treatments have also been reiterated. At the time of the results – made public by Clémence Garcia, strategy and communication manager of the social landlord – four homes were found to be contaminated by legionella, including two at 8 rue Gabriel Fauré, but Salma Slim’s apartment was not is not part of it.
