Context: Britain is taking a group of asylum seekers off a barge just days after moving them onto the vessel because Legionella bacteria was found in the water supply.
About Legionella bacteria:
- Legionella is a type of bacteria that can cause a severe and potentially fatal respiratory illness known as Legionnaires’ disease.
- It commonly found in freshwater environments, such as lakes, rivers, and ponds.
- They can also survive and thrive in man-made water systems, including cooling towers, hot water tanks, and plumbing systems.
- The bacteria multiply in warm water and are transmitted to humans through the inhalation of aerosolized water droplets containing the bacteria.
- Legionnaires’ disease is not transmitted through person-to-person contact.
