TORONTO – Health officials in Quebec are scrambling to contain an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in the province’s capital, where the death toll from the deadly bacteria has already climbed to eight while infecting another 100 victims.
The illness has been linked to 104 cases and eight fatalities so far making it the deadliest outbreak of Legionnaires’disease in Canada in 25 years.
According to the province’s public health investigators, eighty-nine cooling towers may be what spread the disease through contaminated air that migrated through little droplets spreading through the air conditions. While those cooling towers have since been disinfected, the government suggests that more cases of the infection will still surface this week.
Global News takes a look at Legionnaires’ disease, from its origins, symptoms and how to protect yourself against it.
What is Legionnaires’ disease?
Legionnaires disease, in its simplest terms, is a pneumonia or lung infection caused by a bacteria called Legionella pneumophilia, according to information provided by Health Canada.
It’s typically found in water sources – then, victims are infected by breathing in mist or steam that’s carrying the bacteria. While this situation may be an outbreak, single cases are more common, the government agency reports.
How does Legionnaires’ disease spread?
The bacteria and cases of outbreak have been reported in hospitals, hotels, other large buildings and even on cruise ships. In both single cases and outbreaks, the illness has been traced to a number of sources including:
– Water distribution systems (showers)
– Respiratory therapy devices in hospitals
– Whirlpool spas and hot tubs
– Humidifiers
– Cooling towers of large air-conditioning systems
Health Canada warns that Legionellosis is not spread from person to person contact, so you won’t contract the illness from an infected person.
The most common mode of transmission is from aspiration – when a victim is choking or coughing – and saliva in the mouth ends up going into the esophagus and entering the lungs instead of the stomach, the University of Ottawa says in its information sheet.
What are the symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease?
Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease mirror many other forms of pneumonia, so at first, it may be tricky for a physician to diagnose it. Symptoms usually don’t begin until after two to 14 days after exposure to the bacteria, according to the US Centers for Disease Control.
Signs of the disease include:
– A high fever, chills and a cough
– Muscle aches and headaches
– Lack of appetite
– Nausea, diarrhea, fatigue
– A change in a person’s mental condition, such as confusion or memory loss
Chest X-rays and tests on phlegm need to be conducted to determine what bacteria has contaminated the body, the CDC reports.
Who gets this disease?
Seniors, or those 50 years old and over, are most vulnerable of getting sick from the bacteria, as well as people who are current of former smokers. Canadians who have chronic lung disease issues, diabetes or a weakened immune system because of cancer or organ transplants are also at an increased risk.
According to Health Canada, 10 to 15 per cent of people with the disease may die, but this varies with age, overall health and how quickly the illness is identified and treated.
How is Legionnaires’ disease treated?
It’s treated through antibiotics that kill the bacteria. The medication is taken orally through tablets or capsules or it’s doled out through intravenous infusion (IV). Depending on how severe your condition is, you may be taking antibiotics for about seven to 10 days. In some cases, however, patients take antibiotics for up to three weeks.
If you’re more vulnerable, you might end up in hospital for treatment – via oxygen and monitoring of your breathing patterns, if necessary.
How do you protect yourself from the disease?
The disease isn’t common and minimizing your risk is difficult because you can’t predict when or where the bacteria will be present.
The University of Ottawa suggests three strategies to reduce risk:
– Control the source of contamination by controlling water treatment so bacteria is killed according to a schedule that’s maintained.
– Creating barriers, such as grates, in cooling towers to that transmission won’t be as swift.
– Making sure higher risk areas have proper signs and information provided about the disease. Human resource managers should keep an eye on sick leave, so they’d notice the onset of a potential outbreak.
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