08/18/2015
Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia — lung inflammation usually caused by a bacterium known as legionella. A person can contract Legionnaires' disease by breathing in a mist or v***r (small droplets of water in the air) containing the bacteria. The infection isn't contagious and can't be spread directly from person to person. It usually takes six to seven days between getting the infection and the start of symptoms (known as the incubation period), although it can be any time from two to 19 days. Initial symptoms usually include flu-like symptoms, such as: mild headaches, muscle pain, high temperature (fever), usually 38C (100.4F) or above, chills, tiredness, and changes to your mental state, such as confusion. Once the bacterium begins to infect your lungs, a person may also experience symptoms of pneumonia, such as: a persistent cough, shortness of breath and/or chest pains. Legionnaires' disease is treated with a course of antibiotics, such as erythromycin or clarithromycin. This disease is very rare. In America there are fewer than 20,000 cases per year. There has been a recent outbreak of this disease in the South Bronx this past July. According to the NY Times, 12 people have died from this disease and more than 100 people have been infected. Prevention from contracting this disease requires meticulous cleaning and disinfection of water systems, pools and spas. References include: mayoclinic.org, CDC, NY Times, and nhs.uk
