Legionnaires' disease
Definition
A severe form of pneumonia caused by the inhalation of aerosolized water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria, often found in large building water systems, cooling towers, or hot tubs.
A medical condition identified following a 1976 outbreak at an American Legion convention in Philadelphia, leading to significant public health advancements in building maintenance standards.
Examples
If your hotel's air conditioning system is blowing more mystery mist than actual cool air, you might be checking out with more than just a souvenir case of Legionnaires' disease.
Modern office buildings are impressive feats of engineering, right up until the point the ventilation system decides to host its own private Legionnaires' disease convention.
Nothing elevates a luxury spa retreat quite like the looming, bacterial threat of Legionnaires' disease lurking in the humidity of the incorrectly maintained hot tub.