Better Water Management Needed to Prevent Legionnaires' Disease Outbreaks
New CDC toolkit offers tips for reducing germ’s growth, spread in building water systems
ATLANTA — More effective water management might have prevented most of the Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated from 2000 through 2014, according to a new CDC report.
Problems identified in these building-associated outbreaks included inadequate disinfectant levels, human error, and equipment breakdowns that led to growth of Legionella bacteria in water systems. CDC has released a new toolkit to help building owners and managers prevent these problems.