WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires’ Disease is hosting a national virtual conference to focus on the need to “Tackle the 96 Percent.” 96 percent of all Legionnaires’ disease cases are single and sporadic – not associated with an outbreak.
“It is absolutely critical that we focus time, energy and resources in addressing the root cause of the vast majority of Legionnaires’ disease cases, which are the individual cases that unfortunately are largely ignored,” said environmental activist Erin Brockovich. “We need to listen to the people whose lives have been upended by this disease and that is exactly what the Alliance’s upcoming conference will allow people to do.”
While outbreaks tend to make national headlines, the truth is about 96% of Legionnaires’ cases are individual and not associated with an outbreak of two or more cases from a common location and timeframe. Unfortunately, individual cases do not receive the investigations, media coverage, or policy response that outbreaks do, despite accounting for virtually all cases each year. The only meaningful way to reduce cases of Legionnaires’ disease is to better understand what drives sporadic Legionnaires’ disease and address by prioritizing root cause water management awareness, practices, and policies.
The free, virtual conference is scheduled for October 19, 2021, from 1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. EDT. Participants can expect to gain a greater appreciation and understanding of sporadic Legionnaires’ disease, the current gaps in research and response to sporadic Legionnaires’ disease, and root-cause prevention approaches that seek to address these individual cases as well as outbreaks. The speaker lineup includes:
The Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires’ Disease is a national nonprofit organization that advocates for better public understanding about and comprehensive handling of risk factors around the waterborne Legionnaires’ disease. For more information about the conference and to register to attend, visit the Alliance’s website: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4636336387223000588
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by aspirating or inhaling small droplets of water contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Symptoms include fever, headache, aching joints and muscles, diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, cough, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, chills and chest pain. Consult your doctor with questions and at the first sign of symptoms.
