Reports of bacteria in Dubai school’s water denied

Dubai: A senior Dubai Municipality official on Monday denied a report claiming that a Dubai school was forced to close temporarily as a result of Legionnaires’ disease caused by water contaminated with bacteria.

Redha Salman, director of the municipality’s health and safety department, said: “There is no Legionnaire’s disease in any school and we are not aware of such an incident.”

The report, carried by a newspaper, had said that a parent, who did not wish to be named, had shared a message claiming that parents had been informed that German International School, located in Dubai International Academic City, would remain closed on Monday because Legionnaires’ disease-causing bacteria was found in the water.

According to Salman, a representative of the school said incorrect information was given to a section of the media by some parents, and not by the school.

He added that the school has decided to conduct a clean-up and maintenance of its water tanks and piping.

The school acquired permission from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority to suspend classes for a day to carry out the work and had informed parents accordingly, Monday’s statement said.

Salman said the “the issue is normal procedure and not as stated by the media [report]”.

Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia, or lung inflammation, that is usually caused by infection by a type of bacteria called legionella. It causes flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, and muscle pain. The disease is usually treated by antibiotics.