Earlier this month, an athletic club in Nassau, New York reported legionella in its pool area. Legionella causes the deadly legionnaires disease, and as of Jan. 6, two cases had been confirmed and traced back to the club.
Legionella outbreaks are have increased four-fold in the United States over the past 15 years, according to a report published last June. In 2015 5,000 Americans were diagnosed with Legionnaires. Legionella is found in water, especially warm water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making hot tubs an ideal breeding ground. Other common sources are showers, water fountains and cooling towers.
What is Legionnaires?
Legionnaires is a lung infection, or type of pneumonia, caused by the bacteria legionella. It often requires hospitalization, but can be treated with antibiotics. The mortality rate is about 1 in 10, according to the CDC. People with lung disease or a history of smoking are more susceptible.
Symptoms include coughing, fever, muscle aches, shortness of breath and headache.
How does it spread?
Legionella is found in warm water, such as water in a hot tub or spa, and a person can become infected when breathing in the mist or steam from the hot tub. Legionnaires cannot be spread through person to person contact, and you can’t get it from ingesting the water.
How can I protect my family or patrons from legionella?
Maintaining proper sanitizer and pH levels in your hot tub is crucial. In addition, using a spa system like Clear Comfort that oxidizes contaminants, including legionella, can reduce your risk.
