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After studies based on the Philadelphia case, known as Legionnaires’
disease,
Legionella
has become a well-known bacterium. Today we have
almost 52 species and we know that the most lethal is named
Legionella
pneumophila serogroup 1 SG1.
Legionella
lives in water (rivers, lakes, dams, etc ...). It is a bacterium that
is considered as part of the aquatic environment and for this reason it is part
of our environment. It’s proliferation is the problem and the systems that
produce aerosol or spray are the way to reach it’s host, in other words, us.
We are living everyday with
Legionella
, from a simple bath to a relaxing
visit to the spa.
Today we know a lot more about this bacteria and that it can cause the
following diseases:
• Pontiac Fever
• Atypical pneumonia (mild or severe)
We also know that
Legionella
is not transmitted from person to person
and neither does it contaminate food.
After the event in Philadelphia, several scholars have turned their
research to old cases of respiratory problems which at the time they had no
idea of the causes, and today it is supposed that
Legionella
had led thousands
of people to death. Today we still have cases andmore cases of the epidemics
by
Legionella
around the world, visiting the internet we can see the amount
of cases that can even reach people inside a supermarket.
We should not be careless with
Legionella
, it is very close to all of us,
irrespective of social class or location.
