A warning has been issued about the year-round risk of Legionnaires’ disease.

Hydrosense, a company that specialises in rapid Legionella testing, has highlighted the continuous threat of Legionella, a potentially fatal bacteria, in the UK.

Legionnaires’ disease, a severe lung infection, occurs when individuals inhale water droplets containing Legionella bacteria.

This bacterium thrives in various man-made water systems, such as taps, showers, air conditioning units, spa pools, and hot tubs.

It is estimated that there are between 4,000 and 6,000 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the UK each year, with a mortality rate of between 7 and 12 per cent of those infected.

The risk of Legionella is said to be increasing due to climate change, which creates a more favourable environment for the bacteria to thrive.

A common misconception is that Legionella is only a concern during the summer months.

However, the bacteria can remain dormant during extreme cold, only to reactivate and proliferate when temperatures rise again.

Buildings that are less frequently used during the winter, such as hotels and offices, are particularly susceptible to outbreaks if water systems are neglected or unused for long periods.

Greg Rankin, CEO at Hydrosense, said: "When we think about Legionella, many of us automatically associate it with the warmer months.

"But the reality is that Legionella is far from just a summer problem.

"The fact is, winter can present just as much of a threat, especially in buildings that have experienced extensive periods of inactivity during the summer months, like schools, universities, office buildings and even some hotel rooms given 32 per cent of them are left unoccupied."

Mr Rankin also drew attention to the importance of a robust water management strategy to tackle this threat, urging British consumers to exercise caution when travelling or staying in hotels, particularly in countries with less stringent water safety legislation.

Statistics indicate that over the past two decades, reported cases of Legionnaires' disease have been increasing globally.

Mr Rankin added: "The statistics show that the scale and severity of Legionella cases happening in the UK and Europe is increasing at concerning levels.

"As such, it’s never been a more appropriate time for consumers to take matters into their own hands and test to protect themselves in certain high-risk settings such as hotels, spas, hot tubs and the like."

In 2021, the EU/EEA had the highest annual notification rate of Legionnaires' disease to date, with 2.4 cases per 100,000 people.

More recently, in 2023, Scotland reported the highest number of cases seen since 2012.