“Legionnaires’ disease is a severe case of pneumonia – an inflammation in the lungs caused by a bacterium called legionella.

Legionnaires’ disease is caused by the waterborne Legionella bacteria, named after the 1976 outbreak involving a Philadelphia convention of the American Legion. During the event, many veterans and some attendees developed a severe, previously unrecognized form of pneumonia that became known as Legionnaires’ disease.

Up to 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease annually in the U.S. with outbreaks most common between June and October.

About 1 in 10 people who get sick from being infected by Legionella will die.  Awareness and early treatment are vital to help people fully recover from this disease.”

Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires Disease (Awareness – Prevent Legionnaires)