Legionella bacteria

• Britain is removing a group of asylum seekers from the Bibby Stockholm barge because Legionella bacteria was found in the water supply.

ABOUT LEGIONELLA BACTERIA

• Legionella bacteria are found naturally in freshwater like rivers and lakes and can grow inside water tanks and plumbing systems.
• It can cause a serious type of pneumonia (lung infection) called Legionnaires’ disease.
  • Symptoms include a cough, shortness of breath, a high temperature, flu-like symptoms and chest pain or discomfort.
  • Generally, it doesn’t spread from person to person.
• The disease typically spreads via inhalation of contaminated aerosols from contaminated water.
• They grow and spread in human-made building water systems like:
  • Showerheads and sink faucets
  • Cooling towers
  • Hot tubs etc.
• Legionella bacteria can also cause Pontiac fever, a mild flu-like illness.
• Treatments exist, but there is no vaccine currently available for Legionnaires’ disease.