Legionella Fast Facts

Legionella Fast Facts from the CDC – webpage

  • Legionella can cause Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever, collectively known as legionellosis.
    The bacterium was named after an outbreak in 1976, when many people who went to a Philadelphia
  • convention of the American Legion got sick with pneumonia (lung infection).
  • About 5,000 cases of Legionnaires’ disease are now reported each year in the United States. [1]
  • About one out of every 10 people who get sick from Legionnaires’ disease will die. [2]
  • People can get Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever when they breathe in a mist (small droplets of water in the air) that has been contaminated with Legionella.
  • In general, Legionnaires’ disease is not spread from one person to another. However, this may be possible in rare cases. [2]
  • Legionella is found naturally in fresh water environments, like lakes and streams, but can become a health concern in human-made water systems.
  • Keeping Legionella out of water systems in buildings is key to preventing infection.

iStock_000007971407Large[1] bacteria 2

Footnote

Dooling KL, Toews KA, Hicks LA, et al. Active Bacterial Core Surveillance for Legionellosis–United States, 2011–2013. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2015;64(42):1190–3.
Correia AM, GonCalves J, Gomes, JP, et al. Probable Person-to-Person Transmission of Legionnaires’ Disease. N Engl J Med. 2016;374:497–8

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