Victims of “legionella” in Vila Franca de Xira have been waiting for justice for 12 years

Deleven years after the outbreak of ‘legionella’ in Vila Franca de Xira, victims continue to report physical sequelae and lack of compensation, while a popular action against the Portuguese state remains pending at the Lisbon Administrative Court.

At least 12 people died and more than 400 were infected following the outbreak of ‘legionella’ that affected in November 2014 the municipality of Vila Franca de Xira, in the district of Lisbon, with a higher incidence in the localities of Vialonga, Póvoa de Santa Iria and Fort da Casa.

Twelve years later, the Legionella Victims Support Association (AAVL) continues to claim justice, since not all people affected by the disease were compensated because the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) failed to establish causality in all victims.

Maria Manuela, treasurer of AAVL, created in 2017, told Lusa agency that disbelief in justice is the dominant feeling among victims and that many of the associates have already stopped attending meetings.

“They are discouraged. When I cross the street with them and ask them why they don't answer things like: Are you still on that? That's all there is to it. But we do not give up and encourage not to give up”, he says.

AAVL filed a popular action in 2019 against the Portuguese State at the Lisbon Administrative Court, which would be challenged in January this year.

However, the association admits, “as a last resort”, to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

In statements to Lusa, the current victim association lawyer, Osvaldo Ralha, stated that popular action questions, among other things, the criteria used to recognize the affected persons and how the necessary evidence was collected and preserved to link infections to the origin of the outbreak.

The defender pointed out that the State contested the action because it considers that “the necessary precautions have been taken to protect the interests of the affected persons” and that now, after the missing documentation has been gathered, it will be up to the court to decide the next steps in the process.

Among the victims who continue to claim an answer is Rui Paixão, 63 years old, residing in Póvoa de Santa Iria, who was hospitalized for nine days after contracting the disease.

“ The only limitations I have are respiratory. If I run to that pine tree, I'll get tired and if my hand gets in my mouth, I'll pop. I don’t have a box,” he complains.

Also Raul Lopes, 75 years old, living in Lisbon, recalls a prolonged hospitalization and the consequences that the disease left on his health.

“I was hospitalized for a month and a few days and was in an induced coma. I got a pulmonary emphysema and today I have a bit of weakness in relation to temperature changes ", says.

Another of the victims, 54-year-old Carla Caeiro, residing in Póvoa de Santa Iria, was hospitalized for about three weeks and says she continues to feel the effects of the disease.

“ Tiredness always gets and I'm not in the same mood I was then. A faster step, a faster walk or if you have to climb stairs ", counts.

A few days after the outbreak began, the then general director of Health Francisco George revealed that the bacteria found in patients with ‘legionella’ were similar to those found in a cooling tower of the company Aghibos de Portugal (AdP), in the Fort of the House.

Between 2017 and 2022 there was a lawsuit involving AdP and General Electric, a company hired to monitor and monitor Adp's cooling towers, as well as seven other defendants, accused of crimes related to the violation of security rules and offenses to physical integrity for negligence.

The nine defendants requested the opening of instruction, optional stage which aims to decide by a criminal prosecution judge whether the case follows and in what manner for trial.

It was at this instructive stage, which started on November 20, 2019, that the defendants managed to reach agreement with the victims by paying compensation, avoiding a trial.

The prosecutor was only able to establish a causal link in 73 of the people affected and eight of the 12 fatalities.

Contacted by Lusa, AdP source sent a comment on the subject later.

Lusa also contacted the Town Hall of Vila Franca de Xira, but did not get an answer.

The outbreak of ‘legionella’ in Vila Franca de Xira was the third with most cases worldwide.

Legionary disease is caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila and is transmitted by inhalation of small droplets of contaminated water, or aerosols, which can transport the bacteria to the lungs.