Protect Yourself from Legionnaires' Disease

Book excerpt: Tens of thousands of people contract Legionnaires' disease each year, 5 to 30% of whom die from it within a few days. You can get the disease while showering, brushing your teeth, drinking water, washing your face, bathing in a hot tub, or walking by a decorative fountain. Legionnaires' disease is not rare. People just think it's rare because over 90% of the cases go undetected. Many deaths attributed to pneumonia are actually caused by Legionella bacteria. In simple language, Legionella expert Matt Freije explains how to avoid the disease in public places-for example, in hospitals, office buildings, and hotels-and how to reduce your risk at work, at the dentist, and from various types of equipment like misters, cooling towers, decorative fountains, hot tubs, and whirlpool bathtubs. The book starts with facts you need to know about Legionnaires' disease: causes, symptoms, susceptibility, death rate, diagnosis, undetected cases. The survivor stories in chapter 2 will make you realize how horrible the disease is, and that it can affect anyone. The last chapter tells how to avoid the disease at home. Advice is given about faucets and showers, water heaters, softeners, filters, humidifiers, and home construction.