Legionnaires' Disease Surge: Protect Yourself

0:00It's April 19th. This is Durham News Today, Powered by AI. North Carolina health officials are sounding the alarm on Legionnaire's disease with cases jumping to 310 this year from 200. One last year. That's a big spike, and it's happening not just here, but worldwide. The bud behind it, Legionella bacteria, thrives in warm, wet spots, like lakes, soil, or man-made setups such as hot tubs, fountains and cooling. Towers. Judged by breathing in tiny water droplets from those sources, but it doesn't spread from person to person. Folks over 50, smokers, people with ongoing health issues or weakened immune systems face the highest risk, turning what could be a minor exposure. And to severe pneumonia, healthy people usually dodge it fine, but the rise means more folks are getting hit hard. To fight back, officials push simple home fixes like flushing out unused faucets and showers weekly, swapping water filters on schedule, draining, hoses, and stint. Sticking to the right fluids for wipers.

1:01In offices and hospitals, keep cooling systems clean, water hot enough, and disinfectants flowing to stop bacteria build up. Staying ahead of this means regular checks on your water gear, especially in shared spaces, so we cut those numbers before they climb higher.