Legionnaires’ Disease
Overview
Legionnaires’ (LEE-juh-nares) disease is a serious type of pneumonia (lung infection) caused by Legionella (LEE-juh-nell-a) bacteria. People can get sick when they breathe in small droplets of water or accidentally inhale water containing Legionella into the lungs. Signs and symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease can include cough, muscle aches, fever, shortness of breath, headache, vomiting or diarrhea.
Legionella
Legionella is a bacterium that grows naturally in freshwater environments like, lakes and streams. When the bacteria grow in human-made water sources, such as decorative fountains cooling towers it can cause Legionnaires’ Disease.
How it spreads
This bacteria spreads through small, aerosolized water droplets that come from a human-made water source. When someone inhales the droplets, they can become infected with Legionnaires’ Disease. This disease doesn’t spread from person to person and is treated with antibiotics.
Who is most at risk?
People over the age of 50, especially those who smoke cigarettes, or those with certain medical conditions, including weakened immune systems, chronic lung disease or other chronic health conditions, are at increased risk for Legionnaires’ disease.
How do I prevent Legionnaires’ disease?
There are no vaccines that can prevent it. Instead, the key to preventing Legionnaires’ disease is to reduce the risk of Legionella growth and spread. Building owners and managers can do this by maintaining building water systems, hot tubs, water fountains, cooling towers, and implementing controls for Legionella. For more information, refer to the CDC website.
Napa County Legionnaires’ Disease Investigation Results
Subtitle Table 1: Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak Dashboard
(Click on the dashboard image above for a larger PDF version of the dashboard)
Currently, there are 17 cases and 1 death. The age range of cases is 40 to 83 years and there are 13 men and 4 women who have been diagnosed. The symptom onset dates are as follows: one June 25, one June 27, one July 2, one July 3, two July 8, one July 9, one July 10, two July 11, one July 12, one July 18, one July 22, one July 25, one July 28, one August 4, and one August 15.
Subtitle Table 2: Cooling Towers with a positive test for Legionella pneumophila*
| Location | Address | Date Sampled | Remediation Completed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hall of Justice | 1125 3rd St Napa, CA 94559 | 7/25/2022 | Yes |
| Embassy Suites | 1075 California Blvd Napa, CA 94559 | 7/25/2022 | Yes |
| Napa Superior Court | 1111 Third St Napa, CA, 94559 | 8/15/2022 | Yes |
| The Riverfront | 700 Main St Napa, CA, 94559 | 8/9/2022 | Yes |
*Legionella pneumophila is the species of Legionella bacteria most often associated with human illness
Questions or Concerns?
Please call Napa County Public Health at 707-253-4270.
Read the Legionnaires' Disease FAQs:
More Information from the CDC:
Guidance on Building Water Systems:
- ASHRAE Guideline 12-2020, Managing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems, Page 34-35
- CDC Developing a Water Management Program to Reduce Legionella Growth and Spread in Buildings
- CDC Controlling Legionella in Cooling Towers
- CDC Routine Testing for Legionella
- CDC Legionella Environmental Assessment Form
- If you need accessibility assistance, please contact the ADA Coordinator.