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Legionnaires disease

Legionnaires disease

Legionellosis is a potentially fatal infection caused by a waterborne bacteria that thrives in tepid water, 77 – 113 degrees Fahrenheit. It takes two distinct forms: Legionnaires’ disease is the more severe of the two forms and comes paired with pneumonia; and Pontiac fever produces a milder respiratory illness and doesn’t cause pneumonia. Symptoms include fever, chills, coughing, muscle aches, headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, loss of coordination and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting.

About Legionnaires disease

Legionnaires’ disease got its name when an outbreak occurred in July of 1976 at an American Legion convention in Philadelphia. Six months later, the causative agent was identified to be a previously unknown bacterium, and subsequently named Legionella.

Infection usually happens when airborne particles containing the Legionella bacteria are inhaled from an infected water source. When something breaks the water’s surface tension, fine aerosol particulates are formed that quickly evaporate. When they evaporate, the bacteria are left suspended in air, where they are inhaled by unsuspecting humans. This usually happens in poorly ventilated areas.

Potential sources of contaminated water include industrial cooling towers, central air conditioning systems, evaporative coolers, hot water systems, showers, windshield washers, whirlpool spas, hot-tubs, decorative water fountains, humidifiers, ice machines and misting equipment.

Related Images

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Hong Kong Secretary for Food and Health York Chow speaks to the press in Hong Kong on January 4, 2012. Hong Kong officials said the discovery of a bacteria which causes the potentially fatal Legionnaires' disease at the new government complex was 'under control' while it was probing the source of the deadly bug.

Containers are filled with clean water before being transported into the Legislative Council at the new government headquarters in Hong Kong on January 4, 2012. Massive disinfection work was carried out at Hong Kong's new government headquarters after the bacteria of the potentially fatal Legionnaires' disease was found and one minister was hospitalised.

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Legionnaires disease