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Hyatt
at the Bellevue, site of 1976 American Legion Convention Photo credit: updrd.com |
Several cases of
Legionnaire’s have been reported
recently in New York
this year. At least twelve of the infected people have died due to
complications of the disease. After an investigation of cooling systems and
public pools by the New York City Department of Health, the outbreak was traced
to the Opera House Hotel in the South Bronx.
Twelve cases of
Legionnaire’s were reported in the Bronx during December of 2014 and twelve
more cases were reported in January. In April and May of 2015, ten additional
cases were brought to the attention of the health department. All these in New
York alone as thousands of cases are reported worldwide each year.
What causes
Legionnaire’s Disease?
The bacterium Legionella
pneumophila is thought to be responsible for Legionnaire’s Disease and for
Pontiac Fever. The main difference between Legionnaires and Pontiac Fever is
that the people with Pontiac Fever typically recover on their own, while people
with Legionnaire’s will more than likely need medical treatment. Pontiac Fever
is not accompanied by pneumonia.
Pools are a primary
suspect due to the sheer numbers of people using it, making the chlorine work
overtime. Also, chlorine does
not do well with hardier bacteria such as E Coli, Norovirus, Legionella and cryptosporidium.
Cooling systems are suspect because they collect reservoirs of contaminated
water and then spread bacteria by cooling fans and ductwork. Less efficient
buildings create higher humidity fostering more mold and bacteria to be spread
around. More energy efficient buildings with airtight features and proper
ventilation can significantly
reduce humidity and water condensation.
Otherwise, pools of
water, such as lakes or bird baths, have used fountains to
cut down on stratification and promote healthier bacterias.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
of Legionnaires
The first signs of
Legionnaire’s disease are: cough, high fevers, muscle aches, headaches, and
shortness of breath.
Doctors have a hard time
diagnosing Legionnaire’s. The disease shares many symptoms with other medical
conditions, leaving doctors to come to a diagnosis after a process of
elimination. Legionnaire’s has an incubation period of between two and fourteen
days after exposure to the bacteria.
Most commonly, the
disease is detected through urinary antigen
testing. If a person has
pneumonia and has a positive urine sample, then a diagnosis can be made for
Legionnarre’s.
Number of Legionnaires
cases each year
Researchers believe that
as many as eighteen thousand people are hospitalized due to complications of
Legionnaires Disease each year in the United States. The biggest problem with
the facts on Legionnaires is that only about three thousand cases are reported
to the Center for Disease Control each year.
Complications Associated
with Legionnaire’s Disease
People with
Legionnaire’s Disease often succumb to the devastating complications that can
accompany the disease. These complications include: acute kidney failure,
respiratory failure and septic shock.
Treatments and
Prevention for Legionnaire’s Disease
Legionnaires can be
treated. Some people will be affected more severely by the bacteria. These
people include: chronic lung conditions like asthma or COPD, elderly, infants,
people who smoke tobacco products and people with weakened immune systems.
Primary treatment is
through the use of
antibiotics, particularly azithromycin. The best defense against any disease is prevention. To prevent
the bacteria from growing and spreading the disease, water systems in cooling
towers, swimming pools, and spas need to be maintained. Health codes have been
established for this purpose and are adapted to keep Legionella and other
bacteria from developing in them.
Check your pool water
using test strips to make sure that you have the proper amount of chemicals
present in the water. The Center for Disease Control recommends chlorine levels
between two and four parts per million, bromine levels between four and six parts per million, and pH
levels between 7.2 and 7.8.
Authors Bio:
“Daniel is a freelance writer and
observationist, former English teacher and failed comedian. His interests
include mindfulness, poverty, the environment and support for disenfranchised
people worldwide. He is an ardent champion of terrestrial, freeform radio and a
DJ at Radio Boise.”
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