Legionnaires’ Disease:
A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak has prompted a health alert in Sydney’s central business district recently, with authorities urging people to remain vigilant for symptoms.
- It is a severe form of a lung infection (pneumonia) caused by a bacterium known as legionella.
- The disease got its name when a group of people at an American Legion convention became ill with this type of pneumonia in 1976.
- Legionella is found naturally in freshwater, such as lakes and rivers. It can also be found in soil.
- Most people who catch Legionnaires’ disease breathe in the bacteria from water or soil.
- You usually can’t get infected by drinking water that contains the bacteria unless you aspirate it (accidentally breathe the water into your lungs).
- It is not contagious, meaning it is not spread from person to person.
- Older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and people who smoke have a higher risk of getting Legionnaires’ disease.
- Legionnaires’ disease causes pneumonia-like symptoms that start two to 14 days after exposure to Legionella.
- Patients usually present with fever, cough, shortness of breath, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, and may have gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
- In severe cases, neurological symptoms (e.g., confusion) and respiratory failure may occur, and some cases may result in death.
- Treating right away with antibiotics most often cures Legionnaires’ disease.
- But some people still have problems after treatment.
- Currently, there is no vaccine available for LD.
