12/12/2025
The Main points of the UKHSA report are:
- 472 cases of legionellosis were reported in 2024, representing a 22.0% decrease compared with 2023 and returning to levels observed between 2021 and 2022
- the estimated incidence of Legionnaires’ disease in 2024 was 0.7 (confidence interval (CI): 0.7 to 0.8) per 100,000 population in England and Wales, compared to 1.0 (CI: 0.9 to 1.1) in 2023
- the majority of cases (63.9%, n = 296) were reported in individuals aged 60 years and over in 2024, with 68.0% (n = 315) of cases being male
- the case fatality rate (CFR) for Legionnaires’ disease cases in 2024 was estimated to be 2.8% (CI: 1.6% to 4.9%), which is similar to 2023
- just over half of Legionella exposures in 2024 were acquired in the community, accounting for 239 cases (51.6%). 203 cases (43.8%) were associated with travel outside the UK, while 21 cases (4.5%) were linked to healthcare facilities (healthcare-associated)
- 3 out of 4 Legionnaires’ disease cases (76.5%, n = 354) in 2024 had at least one known risk factor commonly associated with the disease. The most frequently reported risk factor was smoking, which was present in over half of cases (56.6%, n = 262)
For more information, visit the UKHSA website