PULSE YOUR HEALTH

  Legionnaire’s Disease is a serious and potentially fatal form of pneumonia caused by a type of bacteria called Legionella. These bacteria are naturally found in freshwater environments, such as lakes and rivers, but they can also grow and multiply in human-made water systems, such as cooling towers, hot water tanks, showers, faucets, and hot tubs. People can get sick from Legionnaire’s Disease when they breathe in small droplets of water that contain the bacteria. The disease is not spread from person to person. Who can get affected? Legionnaire’s Disease can affect anyone, but some people are more likely to get sick than others. These include older adults, smokers, people with chronic lung diseases, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms of Legionnaire’s Disease The symptoms of Legionnaire’s Disease usually appear 2 to 10 days after exposure to the bacteria and can include: fever chills cough shortness of breath chest pain muscle aches headaches nausea vomiting diarrhea a