Dakota Beacon

Legionella bacteria occurs naturally in fresh water environments, like lakes and streams. It can cause a serious type of pneumonia (lung infection) called Legionnaires' disease. The bacteria can also cause a less serious illness called Pontiac fever. Scientists named the bacterium after an outbreak in Philadelphia in 1976. During that outbreak, many people who went to an American Legion convention got sick with pneumonia.

Outbreaks of Legionnaires' Disease occur in or near buildings or structures that have complex water systems, such as hotels and resorts, long term care facilities, hospitals, and cruise ships. Death rates for such outbreaks range from 5% to 80% of those infected. Fortunately, it is not transmitted by human contact, instead by breathing in mist or accidentally swallowing water from infected sources such as cooling towers, hot tubs, spas, etc.

In 2018, just under 10,000 cases of Legionnaires' disease were reported by health departments in the United States. However, because it is highly under diagnosed, this number may underestimate the true incidence. It also occurs regularly throughout the rest of the world.

This disease is on a nearly exponential rise during the last few years despite the efforts of state public health officials to prevent it. The death rate is around 10% or about 1,000 deaths per year. According to the CDC, no vaccine is available fir Legionella. My real purpose, however, in presenting this material is to place in perspective the Covid-19 pandemic. A trial vaccine has been implemented in an initial test group just recently, offering hope for the future. If the number of deaths due to Corvid-19 in the USA exceeds 1,000 prior to a vaccine becoming available for general use, we will seriously begin to understand why the current draconian measures to prevent this disease from being transmitted by humans

My real purpose, however, in presenting this material is to place in perspective the Covid-19 pandemic. A trial vaccine has been administered to an initial test group just recently, offering hope for the future. If the number of deaths from Covid-19 in the USA exceed 1,000 prior to a vaccine becoming available for general use, we will seriously begin to understand the validity of our government's draconian measures to prevent this disease from being transmitted by humans to each another.