Five cases of Legionnaires’ disease reported in Lexington, prompting health officials to urge caution around pools, hot tubs Centers for Disease Control and Prevention graphic
By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
“The increase of use of outdoor pools and hot tubs during the summer, combined with recent rainfall and the potential for stagnant water, creates a need for reminders about Legionnaires’ disease,” the department said in a news release.
“Legionella occurs naturally in freshwater environments, like lakes and streams. It can become a health concern when it grows and spreads in human-made building water systems,” the release says.
The health department adds that swimming pools become a concern when the temperature sits within the danger zone for the growth of the bacteria: “Legionella are unlikely to grow in typical swimming pools because water temperatures are usually too cold. However, you should sample pools if they are associated with a possible exposure or temperatures are within the permissive range (i77 to 113°F ).”
People at higher risk of getting Legionnaires’ disease are those 50 and older, those with chronic lung disease, current or former smokers, those who take drugs that suppress their immune system, and people with cancer or underlying illnesses like diabetes, kidney failure or liver failure.
The CDC urges people to talk to their doctor or local health department right away if they think they have been exposed to Legionella or if you develop pneumonia symptoms, such as fever, cough, chills or muscle aches. And, to be sure to mention if you have spent any nights away from home in the last 14 days.
The health department says public-health agencies reported nearly 10,000 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the U.S. in 2018, but thie actual number was likely much higher because the disease often goes undiagnosed: “A recent study estimated that the true number of Legionnaires’ disease cases may be 1.8–2.7 times higher than what is reported.”
In Kentucky, 606 cases of Legionnaires’ disease (both confirmed and probable) have been reported since 2018, with an average of 114 cases a year between 2018 and 2021. In 2022, the state reported 107 cases, which are still being reconciled, and so far, 43 cases have been reported in 2023.
While the disease is uncommon and most people make a full recovery, it can be deadly. According to the CDC, most people who get Legionnaires’ disease need hospital care, and about one out of every 10 people who get the disease die from complications of the illness.