Who is most at risk of Legionella?
People at increased risk of getting sick are:
- People 50 years or older.
- Current or former smokers.
- People with a chronic lung disease (like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema)
- People with weak immune systems or who take drugs that weaken the immune system (like after a transplant operation or chemotherapy)
Is Legionella common in Scotland?
Legionnaires’ disease isn’t common in Scotland and the majority of cases reported are related to travel outwith the country.
What increases the risk of Legionella?
The risk increases with age but some people are at higher risk including: people over 45 years of age. smokers and heavy drinkers. people suffering from chronic respiratory or kidney disease.
Can you get Legionnaires disease from tap water?
You can get Legionnaires’ disease from things like: taps and showers that are not used often.
How common is Legionella UK?
Just over 60% of the 355 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease, (216 cases), were reported in individuals aged 60 years and over. Over the three-year period 2014 to 2016, the incidence rate in England and Wales reached a mean of 6.1 cases per million population (pmp).
Is a Legionella Risk Assessment mandatory in Scotland?
Legionella Risk Assessments in Scotland are a legal Requirement for all Landlords.
What happens if legionella is detected in water?
Growth of legionella bacteria in a water system can lead to a risk of people contracting Legionnaires’ disease. This is a serious form of pneumonia that can have fatal consequences, as well as severe financial and legal repercussions for an organisation responsible for an outbreak.
How common is Legionella in water?
Legionnaires’ disease is a very small percentage of all waterborne illness. According to the CDC, about 8,000 cases of Legionnaires’ disease are now reported each year in the United States. In general, the number of cases reported to the CDC has been on the rise over the past decade.