A new disease caused by bacteria that harvests well in warm water and can emerge in epidemic proportion has been detected in four patients in the country, health officials said on Sunday.The EDCD has not disclosed the identity, sex and age of these patients. However, it informed that both the patients were treated and discharged from Balkhu-based Vayodha Hospital. The patients had developed acute pneumonia where urine was tested positive with low sodium in the blood. “The patients have fully recovered and are under our surveillance. We are further testing and conducting research regarding their condition,” Dr Baburam Marasini, Director at EDCD, said.Four male patients from Kuleshwor, Kalimati, Kalanki and Sarlahi were admitted to the hospital after suffering from high fever and diarrhoea. After various diseases were ruled out, a urine antigen test based on standards set by World Health Organization confirmed that the patients were suffering from Legionnaires’ disease caused by bacteria Legionella pneumophila.This disease had killed seven people and infected 311 others in Portugal in November this year.
