- Two different illnesses are caused by Legionella bacteria – Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever
- Legionella bacteria are usually found in water.
- Legionnaires’ disease got its name from a 1976 outbreak at an American Legion convention in Philadelphia.
- About one in 10 people who gets sick from Legionnaires’ disease will die.
- Legionella occurs naturally in fresh water environments, like lakes and streams. It can become a health concern when it grows and spreads in human-made building water systems.
- In general, people do not spread Legionnaires’ disease to other people. However, this may be possible under rare circumstances.
- The most common transmission of Legionella is by inhaling contaminated aerosols.
- Legionella can rapidly multiply in water distribution systems.
- There are over 60 different species of Legionella.
- Legionella bacteria ideally need a water temperature of between 20-45C to grow and contaminants such as rust and limescale can exacerbate reproductive rate.