Hotel outbreak? That’s how Legionnaires’ disease got its name

The Sheraton Atlanta Hotel outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease illnesses continues to make headlines as health officials said that there are a “probable” 55 cases to go along with a confirmed 11 cases. Many people, however, are probably wondering: What exactly is Legionnaires’ disease?

In a nutshell, it’s a severe type of bacterial pneumonia that is difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are very similar to other types of pneumonia, as well as influenza (flu). The onset of symptoms generally begin with:

• coughing
• fever
• chills
• shortness of breath (called dyspnea)
• muscle aches
• headaches
• diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems (nausea, vomiting, cramps).

After a couple of days, however, symptoms can worsen to include chest pains (called pleurisy or pleuritis) and mental confusion.

Legionnaires’ disease doesn’t spread from person to person. Instead, the bacteria spreads through mist, such as from air-conditioning units for large buildings. People over the age of 50, anyone with a weakened immune system or chronic lung disease, or smokers (current and former) are most at risk.

Hotel outbreak:
In the beginning

Legionnaires’ disease got its name more than 40 years ago, back in 1976. In July of that year, more than 4,000 delegates gathered at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia for the American Legion Convention. Several days after the conclusion of the four-day event, many attendees reported becoming ill.

By Aug. 2, more than 20 attendees had died, and hundreds who had attended the gathering were experiencing the symptoms mentioned above. When it was all said and done, 182 people had been sickened, and 29 of them died.

It wasn’t until January 1977, however, that the bacterium was identified and isolated and found to be breeding in the cooling tower of the hotel’s air conditioning system. Soon thereafter, the bacterium was given a name (Legionella pneumophila), and the illness became known as “Legionnaires’ disease.”

The Sheraton Atlanta Legionnaires’ disease outbreak brings to mind the hotel outbreak in Philadelphia that gave the disease its name back in 1976.

Hotel outbreak:
Popular convention host

The Sheraton Atlanta is one of five host hotels for Dragon Con, the largest multimedia pop-culture convention in the United States. The convention draws about 80,000 visitors – 20 times the size of the 1976 American Legion Convention.

The Georgia Ballroom in the Sheraton Atlanta is the primary member registration area for members. Both hotel management and Dragon Con officials are hopeful the hotel will reopen in time for the event.