What is legionella?
“Legionella is a bacterium that occurs naturally in water and does no harm. But under the right conditions, the bacterium can multiply strongly, so that the bacteria can end up in your lungs via water that is nebulized and can cause an infection,” explains Bastmeijer from.
Ideal for the bacteria to grow quickly is standing water between twenty and fifty degrees. The risk of legionella contamination is therefore greatest in warm weather and if taps are not used regularly enough.
Extra dangerous due to corona
An infection with the legionella bacteria can cause mild flu symptoms, such as fatigue. But there can also be severe pneumonia due to multi-organ failure and that can lead to major health problems.
Because symptoms of legionella infection can resemble corona, it is extra dangerous during this time. Bastmeijer: “There is little thought about legionella, especially in this day and age. So there is a greater chance that a lot of time will pass before the correct diagnosis is made. That is an extra risk. If you do not ring the bell in time, you can have serious consequences.”
If you catch it in time, you can recover very quickly with the right antibiotics and, according to Bastmeijer, it certainly does not have to lead to serious health problems.
Reduce chance
You can do a lot yourself to limit the risk of legionella as much as possible. Bastmeijer advises to flush all pipes properly when you return from vacation. “Turn on all water points, flush both the hot and cold taps and flush the toilet.”
The water sprays in the shower, so that’s where the risk is. “Flush the shower extra well, but prevent misting by putting the shower head in a bucket, for example. This way you don’t inhale the spray when you rinse it off for the first time.”
According to Bastmeijer, it is also wise to flush all water points well on arrival at your holiday home, just to be sure.
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