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Legionella (Legionnaires' Disease and Pontiac Fever)
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    About the Disease

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    Legionella bacteria can cause a serious type of pneumonia (lung infection) called Legionnaires’ disease. The bacteria can also cause a less serious illness called Pontiac fever.

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    Causes, How it Spreads, and People at Increased Risk

    Explains where you can find Legionella, how people are exposed to it, and who is at increased risk for getting sick...

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    Signs and Symptoms

    Lists signs and symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever…

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    Diagnosis, Treatment, and Complications

    Describes tests performed to confirm infection, how doctors treat Legionnaires’ disease, and possible complications that can arise...

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    Prevention

    Explains the role water maintenance plays in preventing Legionnaires’ disease...

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    History, Burden, and Trends

    Provides the history of these illnesses and explains current disease burden and trends...

    Legionnaires’ Disease Fact Sheet

    Legionnaires’ Disease Fact Sheet pdf icon[1 page]
    This fact sheet describes what Legionnaires’ disease is, its symptoms, how it’s spread and treated, and who is at increased risk.

    Page last reviewed: April 30, 2018
    Content source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Division of Bacterial Diseases
    home Legionella Home
    • About the Diseaseplus icon
      • Causes, How it Spreads, & People at Increased Risk
      • Signs & Symptoms
      • Diagnosis, Treatment, & Complications
      • Prevention
      • History, Burden, and Trends
    • Fast Facts
    • For Cliniciansplus icon
      • Disease Specifics
      • Clinical Features
      • Diagnosis, Treatment, & Prevention
    • For Health Departmentsplus icon
      • Surveillance & Reporting Resourcesplus icon
        • Case Definitions
        • CDC Surveillance Classifications
        • How to Report Cases
        • Case Report Form Instructions
        • Surveillance Reports
      • Epidemiology Resourcesplus icon
        • Case Verification
        • Patient Interview Tools
        • Things to Consider: Outbreak Investigations
      • Healthcare Resourcesplus icon
        • Defining Facilities & Disease
        • Things to Consider: Healthcare-associated Cases and Outbreaks
        • Preventing Healthcare-associated Disease
      • Environmental Resourcesplus icon
        • Procedures for Identifying Cooling Towers
        • Photos of Various Types of Cooling Towers
      • Communications Resources
      • Request CDC Assistance
    • For Laboratories
    • Prevention with Water Management Programsplus icon
      • Overview of Water Management Programs
      • Water Management Program Toolkitplus icon
        • Identify Buildings at Increased Risk
      • Monitoring Your Building Water
      • Special Considerations for Healthcare Facilitiesplus icon
        • Water Management in Healthcare Facilities
        • Water Management Program Validation
        • Federal Requirement
      • Considerations for Hotel Owners and Managers
      • Considerations for Public Hot Tub Operators
      • Considerations When Working with Legionella Consultants
    • Outbreaks
    • For Media
    • Resourcesplus icon
      • Materials
      • Guidelines, Standards, and Laws
      • Publications
    Related Links
    • CDC Healthy Swimming
    • CDC Vessel Sanitation Program
    • Unexplained Respiratory Disease Outbreaks (URDO)
    • European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network (ELDSNet)external
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