Anyone see the Legionnaire's warning?

[deedeediver]

okay turs, sorry i didnt see the link, just giving my two cents.

---------- Post added February 9th, 2015 at 08:29 PM ----------

ohohhhhhhhhhh DADA,, I would hope not. But I am not a biologist or form CIEE which I am sure is really looking into this as well.

 

[tursiops]

okay turs, sorry i didnt see the link, just giving my two cents.

Hey, no problem. I just gave a link, but you actually reported some info.....and I'm a bit amazed that they are in agreement, since the link was from WEB, hardly an impartial party.

 

[Scotttyd]

It may be different in Bonaire but in Raleigh, NC., the air heading to my lungs passes through part of the same tube as water heading for my stomach.

that almost made the water glass go shooting out through my nose

But what they mean is that if you drink the water - the acid in your stomach usually kills it off - but if you breath in the mist - you can get the disease (named legionella because it was first discovered when an Air Conditioning system at an American Legion meeting was contaminated)

 

[Steve_C]

Hi Scotty, long time no dive together.

I understand about the mist part. It is just that if I drink some contaminated water and then inhale air that is passing over those wet tissues I would think that the breath would pick up some of that remaining contaminated moisture. Not saying that is a highly efficient way to get the most bugs to your lungs but would seem to create the possibility of at least getting a few there. Don't see an obvous barrier but there may be one.

Seems the safest thing is to just drink beer and from the pictures I have seen of you and Herman and the rest I did not think anybody drank any water in Bonaire.

 

[Scotttyd]

Hi Scotty, long time no dive together.

I understand about the mist part. It is just that if I drink some contaminated water and then inhale air that is passing over those wet tissues I would think that the breath would pick up some of that remaining contaminated moisture. Not saying that is a highly efficient way to get the most bugs to your lungs but would seem to create the possibility of at least getting a few there. Don't see an obvous barrier but there may be one.

Seems the safest thing is to just drink beer and from the pictures I have seen of you and Herman and the rest I did not think anybody drank any water in Bonaire.

I will use my medical knowledge - there is a difference between airborne precautions (what you are talking about) and droplet precautions (requiring the water to be in a mist form). But drinking the water is unlikely to cause issues - but I am not an infectious disease person -so I don't recommend testing out my theory.

And yes - we need to dive soon - NC diving has been missed by me lately

 

[H2ODoc]

(I do Legionella testing and eradication for work)

Legionella bacteria don't "evaporate" from the water, so if you were to breathe humidity from a glass of legionella-tainted water, you wouldn't be exposed.

If you were to drink Legionella-containing water, it's possible that some would be aerosolized as you drink it, but not very likely.

I'm always concerned taking a shower in questionable water supplies - that's where water droplets and mist can easily be inhaled. As prevalent as Legionella is, it's surprising more people aren't infected.

Keep the hot water heater thermostat well above 122 deg F and you *should* be fine.

 

[KeithG]

drink beer, don't shower?

---------- Post added February 16th, 2015 at 09:52 PM ----------

Bonaire - Diving Paradise!