Woman dies of Legionnaires' disease at Dutch hospital

A 78-year-old woman died and three other patients were infected with Legionnaires' disease at a hospital in The Hague, hospital authorities said.

Tests were being carried out and the hospital's water system cleaned Tuesday after water samples in one shower block in the hospital showed traces of the bacteria that causes the disease, Haga Hospital said in a statement.

Legionnaires' disease, which got its name from an outbreak at an American Legion convention in 1976, is a form of pneumonia. Most people exposed to the bacteria never get sick, but the elderly and people with weak immune systems can be susceptible. The disease is treatable with antibiotics.

The unit where the four patients were infected has been closed since May 12, the statement said.

Local media said that one of the infected patients was being treated in intensive care, while the other two were recovering. A hospital spokesman could not be reached for comment.