In Reply to: Bali never again! Legionnaires disease! posted by Hillary on Sunday, 5. September 2010 at 09:15 Bali Time:
I fully share your sentiments, Hillary. None of the things you mention have ever deterred us from going to Bali once or twice a year. However, the prospect of Legionella and the authorities' silence as to where the three people contracted the disease, is worrying. You see, two years ago my then fit 77 year old husband fell ill and within days was in intensive care. One of his lungs collapsed before they could ascertain that it was Legionella pneumonia which was then treated with the appropriate antibiotics. Still his condition continued to deteriorate and he remained in intensive care for almost two months in an induced coma. He has recovered well, but it really is a very scary disease. His condition was diagnosed early and still he nearly died.
So now I am wondering whether this time the odds are too great for a return to Bali and the unknown places where he might be at risk. We do like our shopping in the airconditioned malls, and not knowing where the unfortunate tourists (and how many Balinese?) contracted the disease is a real worry. I feel that transparency is important in this case, and further details should be provided by the Australian health authorities as to where in 'central Kuta' this communicable disease was contracted.
Just my thoughts.