Testing forLegionella is done by taking water samples from suspected contaminated sources. There is a very specific test, which is done by only a handful of laboratories. We recommend using Pathcon Laboratories in Norcross, Georgia, who can advise on methods of sampling, etc.

Since Legionnaire's disease is really rather common, it takes evidence of an outbreak to interest public health authorities. An example of an outbreak would be multiple cases with indications of a common source, such as two people who work at the same facility.

Hot water heaters should be maintained at the intended temperature, above 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Mixed hot and cold water holding tanks should not be used.

Proper cooling tower maintenance is essential. This involves regular use of biocides, periodic cleaning of cooling towers, and periodic testing of water for biocide and bacterial levels. Due to a recent court case, standards of care now requires periodic testing of cooling tower water specifically for Legionella.

Pontiac Fever is a flu-like illness caused by the same bacterium as Legionnaire's disease. It is self-limiting (people get well on their own in a few days) and no one knows why some infections manifest as the one disease and some as the other.

First of all, if you don't have Pneumonia, you don't have Legionnaire's disease. If you do have Pneumonia, there is a blood test for exposure to Legionella that can be performed by many clinical microbiology laboratories. Your doctor can easily have this done.

Contrary to popular belief, Legionnaire's disease is a common disease. There are an estimated 25,000 deaths per year in the U.S. from it. Most cases are never diagnosed as being Legionnaire's disease, but are simply recognized as a case of pneumonia. It is believed that most cases of Legionnaire's disease are caught in hospitals.

The bacterium which causes Legionnaire's disease is normally present at low levels in potable water supplies. Under the right conditions (particularly moderately hot water temperatures, from about 90 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit, and in the presence of nutrients), its population may greatly increase. If droplets of contaminated water get into the air and are inhaled by a susceptible individual, he may contract the disease. Amongst the recognized sources of infection are air-conditioning cooling towers, and shower heads. There have been documented cases of individuals being infected by droplets from a cooling tower on top of a building that they were merely passing by. Probably most cases outside of hospitals are caught from the shower head in one's home.

Legionnaire's disease is a form of pneumonia caused by a bacterium, Legionella pneumophilia. It was first discovered following an outbreak at an American Legion convention in a Philadelphia hotel in 1976. However, after the organism was isolated, some earlier pneumonia outbreaks were investigated and it was verified that earlier cases had occurred.

Legionnaire's disease has an attack rate of about 5%, meaning about 5% of those exposed will contract the disease, and a mortality rate of around 15%, meaning about 15% of those who contract the disease will die of it. In total, then, a bit under 1% of those exposed will die from the disease.