5 cases of Legionnaires’ disease linked to cooling tower in downtown Lincoln, NH officials say.
There’s been a bit of a scare in Lincoln, New Hampshire. Several people got sick with Legionnaires’ disease, which is like a really bad kind of pneumonia. Turns out, the problem started with a cooling tower at a popular resort.
The cooling tower was spraying tiny water droplets with nasty bacteria into the air. People breathed it in and got sick. Luckily, the resort is working with health officials to clean things up, but it’s a good reminder to be careful about where you breathe!
“And the risk is that this bacteria gets into the water system, gets dispersed in the air in some way. And then somebody breathes in infected or contaminated water droplets,” said New Hampshire State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan.
The cooling tower is still in operation hence the HHS officials said there might be a continued risk of exposure to the public, especially for people within a half-mile radius of the tower.
“There is this area of contamination. It may still pose a risk to the public, particularly if they have health conditions that put them at higher risk. They should take note and sort of assess their own health risk,” Chan said.
Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak in Lincoln, NH: A Closer Look
So, what happened?
There was a group of people who got really sick in Lincoln, New Hampshire. Turns out, they all had a similar kind of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease. Health experts started looking into it and found out that the problem came from a cooling tower at a nearby resort.
Cooling towers are basically big machines that help cool down buildings. But sometimes, they can be a breeding ground for nasty bacteria. In this case, the bacteria was Legionella, which can cause Legionnaires’ disease when people breathe in the tiny water droplets.
What’s being done?
The resort where the problem started is working closely with health officials to clean up the cooling tower and make sure it’s safe. They’re also trying to figure out how to prevent this from happening again.
It’s important to remember that most healthy people won’t get sick from Legionnaires’ disease, even if they’re exposed to the bacteria. But for people with weakened immune systems, it can be really serious.
A Brief History of Legionnaires’ Disease
Legionnaires’ disease wasn’t always known by that name. It wasn’t until 1976 that this mysterious illness got its name.
A group of veterans attending an American Legion convention in Philadelphia started getting really sick. Many of them ended up in the hospital with a severe form of pneumonia. Doctors were puzzled. They couldn’t figure out what was making these people so sick.
After a lot of investigation, they discovered a new type of bacteria, which they named Legionella. This bacteria was the culprit behind the mysterious illness. To honor the veterans who were affected, the disease was named Legionnaires’ disease.
Even though the disease was officially named in 1976, it’s believed that Legionella bacteria have been around for a long time. There might have been other outbreaks in the past that were never linked to this bacteria.
It wasn’t until after the 1976 outbreak that scientists started looking for Legionella in other cases of pneumonia. That’s when they realized it had been causing illness for much longer than anyone knew.
How Legionnaires’ Disease Spreads
Legionnaires’ disease is not contagious. This means you can’t catch it from someone who is sick.
The main way people get Legionnaires’ disease is by breathing in tiny water droplets that contain the Legionella bacteria.These droplets can come from:
- Cooling towers: These are big machines that cool down buildings.
- Hot tubs and whirlpools: If they’re not properly cleaned, they can harbor the bacteria.
- Showers and faucets: Sometimes, the water can contain the bacteria.
- Air conditioning systems: If the system uses water, there’s a chance for bacteria to grow.
It’s important to remember that just because you’re exposed to the bacteria doesn’t mean you’ll get sick. Most people who breathe in the bacteria don’t get sick at all.
So, the key to preventing Legionnaires’ disease is to keep water systems clean and well-maintained.
Symptoms of Legionnaires’ Disease
Legionnaires’ disease can be tricky to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to other types of pneumonia. However,there are some common signs to look out for:
- Fever: This is usually high and persistent.
- Cough: This can produce mucus, sometimes with blood.
- Chills: You might feel very cold, even when it’s warm.
- Muscle aches: Your body might feel sore.
- Headache: You might have a severe headache.
- Diarrhea: Some people experience stomach upset.
- Confusion: In severe cases, people might become confused or disoriented.
If you think you might have Legionnaires’ disease, it’s important to see a doctor right away. Early treatment with antibiotics can help prevent serious complications.
Treating Legionnaires’ Disease
Antibiotics are the key to treating Legionnaires’ disease. If caught early, antibiotics can help you recover quickly.However, it’s important to finish the entire course of antibiotics, even if you start to feel better. Stopping the medication too soon can lead to the infection coming back.
If the disease is severe, you might need to stay in the hospital to receive intravenous (IV) antibiotics. This means the antibiotics are given directly into your vein.
While antibiotics are effective in most cases, some people with weakened immune systems or other underlying health conditions might have a more difficult time recovering.
It’s important to remember that prevention is the best medicine.
Taking steps to keep water systems clean and well-maintained can help reduce the risk of Legionnaires’ disease. It’s not something you want to mess with, but luckily, there are things you can do to protect yourself. Keep an eye on public places like hotels and hospitals to make sure they’re taking care of their water systems. And if you ever start feeling really sick with a bad cough and fever, don’t hesitate to see a doctor. Early treatment is key to beating this bug!