A Qawra hotel was closed down last month after the health authorities found the presence of the legionella bacteria in the water system that also led to the rooms’ showers.

The bacteria can result in Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially fatal form of pneumonia. Sources named the hotel as the Qawra Inn.

An establishment in Żabbar was closed because it was deemed to be a risk to public health due to unhygienic facilities. The premises, in Misraħ Is-Sliem, was not registered or licensed as a food premises.

The monthly report released by the Health Inspectorate said that in September more than 700 complaints were lodged: 644 were health-related and included the presence of pests and bad odours while 113 were food-related such as complaints about unhygienic premises.

Last month 1,133 kilograms of food were destroyed and these included 871 kilos of dried figs, 207 litres of milk products and 35 kilograms of doughnuts and cream confectionery.

The inspectorate also withheld three packages containing tattoo equipment that were imported illegally.

During September, 62 requests for applications to operate food and non-food business were processed and 21 contraventions were issued, 17 of which were related to environmental health and four to food.