(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) Legionnaires' Disease

(DECEMBER-2025)

Legionnaires' Disease

A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak has prompted a health alert in Sydney’s central business district recently, with authorities urging people to remain vigilant for symptoms.

About Legionnaires' Disease:

It is a severe form of a lung infection (pneumonia) caused by a bacterium known as legionella.
The disease got its name when a group of people at an American Legion convention became ill with this type of pneumonia in 1976.

Transmission:

Legionella is found naturally in freshwater, such as lakes and rivers. It can also be found in soil.
Most people who catch Legionnaires’ disease breathe in the bacteria from water or soil.
You usually can’t get infected by drinking water that contains the bacteria unless you aspirate it (accidentally breathe the water into your lungs).
It is not contagious, meaning it is not spread from person to person.
Older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and people who smoke have a higher risk of getting Legionnaires’ disease.

Symptoms:

Legionnaires’ disease causes pneumonia-like symptoms that start two to 14 days after exposure to Legionella.
Patients usually present with fever, cough, shortness of breath, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, and may have gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
In severe cases, neurological symptoms (e.g., confusion) and respiratory failure may occur, and some cases may result in death.