Face Masks Don’t Cause Legionnaires’ Disease
September 8, 2020
A viral social media post is spreading the falsehood that wearing a face mask to slow the spread of COVID-19 could cause Legionnaires’ disease. But Legionnaires’ disease is caused by bacteria that festers mostly in warm, standing water, not in human saliva.
People cannot get Legionnaires’ disease from wearing a face mask, Dr. Janet Stout told FactCheck.org in a phone interview. Stout is the president and director of the Special Pathogens Laboratory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and has studied that disease for decades.
Referring to the bacteria, Stout explained, “Legionella is not spread from one person to another.” Rather, it is spread mostly by breathing in mist from infected water sources, which are usually warm and stagnant and commonly include hot tubs or air-conditioning cooling towers, according to the CDC. The disease can also be caused by drinking infected water if some of the water enters the lungs.
The bacteria would not be present in saliva, Stout said, so there would be no way for moisture from a person’s own spit to cause Legionnaires’ disease.
The two diseases — Legionnaires’ and COVID-19 — do share some symptoms, though. Stout highlighted that they both cause high fevers, a cough, and sometimes diarrhea. They also endanger the same high-risk patients — the elderly and those with underlying diseases. So, she said, it’s conceivable that doctors who have a heightened awareness of COVID-19 right now might initially mistake Legionnaires’ disease for COVID-19. But the two diseases have different tests.
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Reopened Schools Find Legionella Risk in Water
Updated September 8, 2020
Health officials are warning parents and returning student about the bacteria responsible for Legionnaires disease. Traces of Legionella – the bacteria responsible for Legionnaires disease – have been found in the water system of multiple schools in Ohio and Pennsylvania after months of sitting empty during the pandemic-related lockdowns.
Where to Look for Legionella
When conducting your building water system investigation, walk-through, or risk assessment use this section to help you identify all potential Legionella reservoirs in the building. If conducting an investigation due to a suspected case or outbreak, also survey the surrounding neighborhood to identify any cooling towers, wastewater treatment facilities, storm water/gray water re-use facilities (i.e. golf course spray irrigation water systems), or ornamental fountains that may be located near the building in question. If necessary, obtain permission to sample these off-the-property locations. Also identify and visually inspect all the building fresh-air intakes/pedestrian walkways with respect to these neighborhood locations.
1. Potable water systems
2. Cooling towers
3. Water walls
4. Aerosol generation during the biological treatment of some industrial process wastewater streams ie., pulp and paper manufacturing, food and beverage manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing
5. Aerosol generation during municipal water and wastewater treatment
6. Raw, utility or pure water
7. Ornamental outdoor and indoor water fountains and ponds
8. Heated swimming pools
*9. Hot tubs
10. Humidifiers/CPAP Machine Water Reservoirs
11. Metal working fluids
12. Medical therapy equipment like dialysis units, nasogastric tubes, respiratory equipment and nebulizers, whirlpool baths
13. Commercial car wash facilities particularly those using recycled water
14. Supermarket vegetable misters
15. Ice machines in hotels and hospitals
16. Outdoor body misters at ballparks and amusement parks*
17. Use of tap water in place of manufactured windshield cleaner fluid
18. Fog Machines
19. Ultrasonic Dental Descalers
20. Storm water/gray water spray irrigation systems
*Has not been associated with any cases of legionellosis to date but all the conditions exist for the presence and transmission of the bacteria.
8 steps to minimize Legionella risk before your business or building reopens
- Develop a comprehensive water management program (WMP) for your water system and all devices that use water. Guidance to help with this process is available from CDC and others.
- Ensure your water heater is properly maintained and the temperature is correctly set.
- Flush your water system
- Clean all decorative water features, such as fountains
- Ensure hot tubs/spas are safe for use
- Ensure cooling towers are clean and well-maintained
- Ensure safety equipment including fire sprinkler systems, eye wash stations, and safety showers are clean and well-maintained
- Maintain your water system
The information in this site is intended solely for the personal non-commercial use of the user who accepts full responsibility for its use. While we have taken every precaution to ensure that the content of this site is both current and accurate, errors can occur.