Did You Know Tuesday

Did you know that it was 33 years ago this month that the first Legionnaires Disease killed several members at a Bicentennial event in Philadelphia? In 1976, this pneumonia-like illness struck attendees at an American Legion Bicentennial event held at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel on Broad Street in Center City Philadelphia. Over 200 people were struck with the illness, 34 of whom died.

It was in early 1977 when the previously undiscovered baterium was singled out and named Legionellosis. This bacterium was found to thrive in wet, cool spaces. At the Bellevue Stratford, it was in the water cooling tower which was used in the air conditioning that the bacteria grew and were later distributed within the hotel.

Antibiotics are used to fight this bacteria.