Legionnaires’ disease is a serious infection caused by Legionella bacteria. But how does it spread? The answer lies in contaminated water sources, such as cooling towers on top of big buildings.
When these towers aren’t properly maintained, they can become breeding grounds for bacteria, which can then be released into the air and inhaled by people nearby.
The Good News: It’s Not Contagious
Don’t worry, you can’t catch Legionnaires’ disease from someone who’s already infected. It’s not like the flu or a common cold that can spread from person to person.
The only way to get it is by breathing in contaminated water particles from a cooling system.
How You Can Get Exposed
According to Dr. Vicky Sheppeard, Director of the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit, “People can get exposed to the bacteria if contaminated water particles from a cooling system are emitted into the air and breathed in.”
This can happen when you’re near a contaminated cooling tower or if the bacteria are spread through the air conditioning system.
Symptoms to Watch Out For
If you’ve been exposed to Legionella bacteria, you might start showing symptoms within 10 days. These can include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Severe chest infections like pneumonia
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s essential to get medical help right away. Your doctor will likely do a urine or sputum test and a chest X-ray to diagnose the disease. In most cases, you’ll need to be treated with antibiotics in the hospital.
Who’s Most At Risk?
Some people are more likely to get Legionnaires’ disease than others. These include:
- Older adults
- People with underlying lung or other serious health conditions
- Smokers
What’s Being Done to Prevent Outbreaks?
To prevent more cases, NSW Health and the City of Sydney are inspecting and sampling all cooling towers within 500 meters of the affected areas.
They’re also asking building owners to disinfect their cooling water systems. The message is clear: building owners must ensure their cooling towers are operated and maintained according to the NSW Public Health Regulation 2022.
Stay Safe and Seek Medical Help if Needed
If you’re experiencing any symptoms of illness, don’t wait – seek medical advice right away. Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your health.