Final answer:
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia with a fatality rate of about 10%, caused by Legionella pneumophila. There is no vaccine; however, antibiotics can effectively treat it. Historically, less than 50 deaths have been reported by 1982, with significant resources allocated by the CDC for its investigation and management.
Step-by-step explanation:
Legionnaires' disease is an atypical form of pneumonia caused by the bacteria Legionella pneumophila, which is commonly found in environments with warm water like air conditioning units of large buildings. The disease can be severe, and about 10% of infected patients may die due to complications. No vaccine is currently available for Legionnaires’ disease, but when diagnosed, it can be treated with fluoroquinolone and macrolide antibiotics.
The first recognized outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease occurred in Philadelphia in 1976 at a hotel hosting an American Legion convention, which led to the name of the disease. While the exact number of people harmed by Legionnaires' disease varies over time with new outbreaks, historically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that by 1982, it had caused fewer than 50 deaths. In contrast to the federal funding given to the AIDS crisis at the same time, more was spent on this disease despite fewer deaths, which suggests the impact and attention Legionnaires' disease has received.
Outbreaks can occur when aerosols from contaminated water sources, such as air conditioning cooling towers, are inhaled, particularly affecting older individuals or those with chronic health conditions. For instance, maintenance of the cooling coils in an air conditioning system at a home improvement store was linked to a number of employees over 55 years old developing the disease.