
In the wake of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at the Sheraton Atlanta hotel, one woman has died of coronary artery disease aggravated by Legionella pneumonia and 11 more people have been confirmed as having the disease. Georgia authorities have reported that “another 61 cases are classified as ‘probable,’ meaning they have confirmed symptoms of the disease and pneumonia but not a lab test,” according to the Washington Post. The Georgia Department of Public Health has alerted people who stayed at or visited the Sheraton Atlanta hotel between June 12 and July 15, 2019, to fill out an online survey and seek immediate medical attention if they have signs or symptoms associated with legionellosis. Those symptoms include fever, chills, cough and shortness of breath. A representative of the Georgia Department of Public Health said that those “who complained of lung problems and were later diagnosed with Legionnaires‘ had attended a convention at the Atlanta hotel in early July,” according to CNN. Understanding Legionnaires’ Disease Legionnaires’ disease is a very serious type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. This type of bacteria can grow and spread in large plumbing systems, hot water heaters, hot tubs, shower heads and faucets. It is most[…..]