Legionnaires’ Disease Could Breed En Masse During Pandemic, by Mike Smith, NPR IL. Oh, Yay.

A health advocacy group said a type of water-borne disease may be spreading at Illinois’ unoccupied workplaces.

Legionnaires’ Disease, which took 43 lives in Illinois last year, could make a comeback amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires’ Disease spokesperson Bob Bowcock explained neglected water systems in shuttered workplaces provide a perfect breeding ground for the Legionella bacteria, which carries the disease.

“If the building water system is not flushed out properly and properly disinfected and recommissioned, we could see a post-COVID-19 Legionella outbreak problem of major significance.”