THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IS INVESTIGATING A CLUSTER OF LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE CASES AMONG INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN NORTH CENTRAL MARSHALLTOWN.
THE H-H-S SAYS 21 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE AND AN OLDER ADULT WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS HAS DIED.
LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE IS CAUSED BY LEGIONELLA BACTERIA AND THRIVES IN WARM WATER ENVIRONMENTS AND IS TYPICALLY SPREAD THROUGH THE INHALATION OF AEROSOLIZED WATER DROPLETS, SUCH AS MIST FROM COOLING TOWERS, HOT TUBS, AND DECORATIVE FOUNTAINS.
LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE IS NOT CONTAGIOUS AND MOST HEALTHY PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPOSED TO LEGIONELLA BACTERIA DO NOT GET SICK.
LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE CAN BE EFFECTIVELY TREATED WITH ANTIBIOTICS IF DIAGNOSED EARLY.
ADULTS AGED 50 AND OLDER, THOSE WHO SMOKE OR INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC LUNG CONDITIONS SHOULD SEEK MEDICAL CARE PROMPTLY IF THEY DEVELOP FLU-LIKE OR RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS.
The post 21 LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE CASES DIAGNOSED IN MARSHALLTOWN IOWA appeared first on KSCJ 1360.
