{"id":2,"date":"2024-07-26T18:13:26","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T18:13:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/legionella\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2024-09-18T13:52:25","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T13:52:25","slug":"sample-page","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/legionella\/","title":{"rendered":"Legionella"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Legionella <\/span><\/i>is a type of bacteria that is the cause of two lung diseases, Legionnaires\u2019 Disease and Pontiac Fever. Legionnaires\u2019 Disease is a serious type of pneumonia (lung infection). Pontiac Fever is a less severe respiratory disease that causes flu-like symptoms. Rarely, <\/span>Legionella <\/span><\/i>can cause infections outside of the lungs, such as heart or wound infections.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Legionnaires\u2019 disease symptoms are similar to other types of pneumonia. Antibiotics are used to treat <\/span>Legionella<\/span><\/i> infections. Most healthy people exposed to <\/span>Legionella <\/span><\/i>don\u2019t get sick. However, certain factors such as smoking status, older age, and health issues or conditions put some people at increased risk for getting Legionnaires\u2019 disease.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Legionella<\/span><\/i> bacteria are naturally found in freshwater environments, like lakes and streams. However, the bacteria are more likely to cause illness when they get into building water systems and are poorly controlled. Once <\/span>Legionella <\/span><\/i>grows and multiplies in a building water system, it can spread to people in a few ways. People most commonly get sick by breathing in mist, or small droplets of water that contain the bacteria. People can also get sick by accidentally swallowing (aspirating) water into the lungs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The source of <\/span>Legionella <\/span><\/i>bacteria in outbreaks are often from hot tubs that are not cleaned and disinfected properly, shower heads, cooling towers, plumbing systems, and mist machines. Outbreaks are commonly associated with buildings or structures that have complex water systems, such as hotels and resorts, long-term care facilities, hospitals, and cruise ships. The key to preventing Legionnaires\u2019 disease is to reduce the risk of <\/span>Legionella <\/span><\/i>growth and spread. Water management programs help building owners control <\/span>Legionella.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

General Information<\/h3>\n
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