Pontiac Fever and Mitigating Legionella Exposure Risks

The New York State Department of Health reports there are approximately 700 cases of Pontiac fever and Legionnaires’ disease reported each year in the state. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes Pontiac fever as a mild respiratory disease that gets better without treatment. It is caused by a type of bacteria known as Legionella. Unfortunately, exposure to Legionella can also cause Legionnaires’ disease, a serious and potentially deadly infection.

It usually takes between a few hours to 3 days after being exposed to Legionella bacteria to develop Pontiac fever symptoms, cautions the CDC. The illness is generally milder than Legionnaires’ disease, and someone with Pontiac fever doesn’t have pneumonia. Symptoms usually last less than 1 week and mostly include:

• Fever
• Muscle aches

Legionella can be found in natural, freshwater environments. Water containing the bacteria can spread in a mist or droplets small enough to be inhaled. Less commonly, people can get sick by aspiration of drinking water containing Legionella. CDC warns that Legionella becomes a health concern when it grows and spreads in human-made building water systems like:

• Showerheads and sink faucets
• Hot tubs
• Decorative fountains and water features
• Hot water tanks and heaters
• Large, complex plumbing systems
• Cooling towers

“In New York, cooling towers have been a common source of infections,” said Frank Selamie, President of CTSI. “In response, owners of cooling towers in the state are required to register, maintain, sample, disinfect, and notify local health departments and the public of elevated levels of Legionella. New York City has additional regulations.”

To help prevent Pontiac fever and Legionnaires’ disease, CTSI’s building science, industrial hygiene, and infection control professionals offer Legionella testing, monitoring, consulting, and training services. These resources protect building occupants, patients, and workers. They also help building owners and managers comply with national standards and any local and state regulations.

CTSI recently sponsored an educational video about Pontiac fever and Legionella exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/YaWWLPBqYrI

To learn more about Legionella or other infection control, industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, environmental, health, and safety services, please visit www.ctsiweb.com, email contactus@ctsiweb.com , or call (212) 971-7016.

About CTSI
Established in 1992, Consulting & Testing Services, Inc. (CTSI) was founded on one strong commitment: to provide efficient and expert services to clients based on professionalism, innovation, and cost-effective expert solutions. This commitment has been furthered with CTSI’s reputation in fostering client relationships in all sectors of the Environmental, Health, Safety, and Construction industries. CTSI prides itself in utilizing a high quality service based on its diverse team of staff and professionals’ concise recommendations and solutions to the most pressing dilemmas. The company operates offices in New York and Florida that service clients across the United States.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail