#Legionella bacteria

[animanightmate]

Legions of Doom

Yeah, so my country’s leaders have decided to double-down on the anti-immigration rhetoric that they shamefully manipulated then rode to get them into power. You know, because that worked so well for Brexit. Let’s keep pushing that classic. One of the first things our newish PM, Rishi Sunak (note: a son of immigrants), did was to announce that they were going to be cracking down on the “small boats” - i.e. the ones that desperate people use to reach these shores. Pretty despicable, right? Don’t worry, our “anti-woke” Tory Party in charge has barely got started.

You may already have heard about the plan headed up by Suella Braverman (another child of immigrants), UK Home Secretary (reinstated after being fired for being a security risk) to deport “illegal immigrants” to Rwanda, an expensive (and apparently illegal) notion that hasn’t really got off the ground yet, and you might be thinking: there’s no lower they can sink. Hold onto your life jackets.

The Immigration Minister, Robert Jenrick, decided that the lobbies of the children's asylum centres were too welcoming, with their colourful, cheerful murals of famous cartoon characters, so ordered the walls to be painted grey; like a dull, battleship grey.

Then it was revealed that the asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants who were currently being housed in hotels (rather than, you know, having their applications to live here properly processed so they could earn money, house themselves, and contribute to society) were costing us too much money. So, you’re going to process them? Oh, no, you’re going to put them on a barge.

But not just any barge… the Bibby Stockholm is special. It’s been the place to house folk temporarily for a few decades now, in various parts of Europe, including homeless folk and asylum seekers in Germany and the Netherlands, plus oil rig and off-shore windfarm construction workers, and is currently moored off the Dorset Coast in the south of England. It’s designed to house about 200 people. It’s been retrofitted to fit 500. Yes, you read that right. And not by enlarging so much as putting bunk-beds in. I’m sure that won’t make anyone feel like they’re being housed in a floating prison… It’s got, you know, a multi-faith prayer room and a gym and catering and medical facilities. And inhabitants will get day release. And 24 hour security.

So it’s safe, right? It’s got extra fire escapes now and… no? No. It’s been assessed and there are some severe worries about how fire safe it is (when professionals start using the term “death trap”, it does tend to make one think, you know?), and how 500 people in there are likely to not be able to get out in case of a fire. Also that any outbreak of disease is likely to spread like wildfire. Ironically. But it’s not like you’re going to put people at risk like that, huh? Oh, and there’s a lot of standing water in the system because it’s not been inhabited or sorted out for a good long while, so you’re going to check for things like mould and legionella bacteria, right?

Wait, you’ve asked for legionella tests but you’re going to start putting people on the thing anyway, before the results come in? That’s… bold.

And… wait, you’ve now put a man on board who has tuberculosis? And you’re threatening people who don’t comply with being put on board that they’ll get no benefits? Even though they’ve been advised that they’re allowed to refuse to go, legally? But the Tory Deputy Chairman went on record to tell people who didn’t want to go that they could, and I quote, “Fuck off back to France.” So that's okay then. Problem solved.

And now you’ve found legionella in the water on the barge. Oh, three days ago? Uh, haha, that seems odd. So… you’re evacuating, right? Well, look; there’s a bar you’ve finally managed to clear. It’s somewhere in Hades, but sure… Have a gold star.

I’m sure there’s something I’ve missed, but that’s the crux of it. I’m not saying, you know, death camps, but, if anything, I might well be saying… death camps…

Oh, and then there’s the whole thing with the hotels where over 100 asylum seekers who are unaccompanied children have been kidnapped in the last year. Nothing to see here. Our coasts and waterways are filling with raw sewage, but everything’s fine. All part of the plan.

[eaglesnick]

“If safety is a joke, then death is the punch line.” Unknown

A few days ago, the dog-food-eating Oliver Dowden, the United Kingdom's hapless Deputy Prime Minister, made the outrageous suggestion that the Fire Brigade's concern over fire hazards on the migrant barge the Bibby Stockholm were politically motivated.

“Dowden’s jibe at fire union over migrant barge safety 'disgraceful'. Deputy PM suggests that FBU’s Labour affiliation influenced its decision to raise concerns about the Bibby Stockholm."  (Guardian: 03/08/23)

Four days later and Home Office minister Sarah Dine said of the Bibby Stockholm:

“It is a safe place to for people to live and stay”  (LBC: 07/08/23)

This position was reiterated by Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick who:

“...offered a guarantee that it is a “safe facility”  (Independent: 07/08/23)

Four days later and we find out that the Bibby Stockholm is anything but a safe place to live and stay, and that Jenrick’s guarantee isn’t worth the breath it was uttered on.

“Asylum seekers leave Bibby Stockholm amid fears over bacteria. Legionella bacteria, which can cause a serious type of lung infection known as Legionnaires' disease, has been found in the water on the barge.”  (Sky news: 11/08/23)

Is the Tory Party so obsessed with image and vote winning by playing the illegal migrant card that it is willing to sacrifice the lives of those claiming asylum?  Evidence would suggest it is.

[creativeera]

The Legionella Testing Market is set to grow significantly with key advancements in water testing

The Legionella testing market involves identification and quantification of Legionella bacteria that causes Legionellosis or Pontiac fever. Legionella testing helps diagnose infections and also monitor the effectiveness of water treatments. The growing complexity and scale of water systems and increasing regulations for testing of potable and recycled water have driven the demand for Legionella testing products and services.

The global legionella testing market size was valued at US$ 312.6 Mn in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 553.3 Mn by 2030, grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5% from 2023 to 2030.

Key Takeaways Key players operating in the Legionella Testing market are Eurofins Scientific, ALS Limited, Bio-Rad Laboratories, IDEXX Laboratories, Aqua Legion UK, Palintest, LuminUltra, Special Pathogens Laboratory, Romer Labs, Real Time Lab Services, Abbott, Beckman Coulter, Inc., BD, Pro Lab Diagnostics Inc. These players are focusing on new technologies and product launches to consolidate their position in the market. The growing complexity of building water systems, increasing awareness about Legionella, and strict regulations have been fueling the Legionella Testing Market Demand. Various industries and sectors are implementing preventive Legionella testing plans to safeguard public health. The Legionella testing market is expanding globally with increasing awareness in developing nations. Key players are focusing on partnerships, acquisitions, and geographical expansions to enter new markets and leverage lucrative opportunities. Market Key Trends Adoption of automated and integrated platforms: There is a growing adoption of automated and integrated platforms for Legionella Testing Companies that offer multiplexed detection with high throughput. Automation enables standardization and efficiency in testing. Increasing preference for PCR-based methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods are increasingly becoming the standard for Legionella testing due to advantages like sensitivity, accuracy, standardization, and ability to detect low colony-forming units. Real-time PCR is widely adopted for same-day results.

Porter’s Analysis Threat of new entrants: Cost of equipment and accreditation requirements limit new entrants. Bargaining power of buyers: Variety of test methods give buyers options to choose from and negotiate on pricing. Bargaining power of suppliers: Standardization of testing protocols provides less differentiation in supplies, increasing buyer power. Threat of new substitutes: No effective substitutes available for accurate and rapid detection of Legionella bacteria currently exist. Competitive rivalry: High level of competition exists among existing players to gain market share through expanding service capabilities and geographic reach. Geographical Regions North America accounts for the largest share of the Legionella testing market currently, supported by stringent regulations and awareness levels regarding Legionella detection and prevention. The Asia Pacific region is poised to experience the fastest growth over the forecast period due to increasing incidence of Legionnaires' disease, rising healthcare expenditures, and growing adoption of advanced water testing methods across countries like China and India.

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Alice Mutum is a seasoned senior content editor at Coherent Market Insights, leveraging extensive expertise gained from her previous role as a content writer. With seven years in content development, Alice masterfully employs SEO best practices and cutting-edge digital marketing strategies to craft high-ranking, impactful content. As an editor, she meticulously ensures flawless grammar and punctuation, precise data accuracy, and perfect alignment with audience needs in every research report. Alice's dedication to excellence and her strategic approach to content make her an invaluable asset in the world of market insights.

(LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alice-mutum-3b247b137 )

[quantumkurv]

Looking for Legionella CAD services in the UK? Check out Quantum Kurv, the experts in Legionella Schematic Drawing. Get accurate and detailed diagrams to ensure the safety of your water systems. Trust Quantum Kurv for all your Legionella CAD needs.

[renpil]

codeine boi and legionella boi

was reading wikipedia pages about bacterias and just rememdered how i realized months later after leaving a place i lived in, that the brown tapwater that sometimes came out of the pipes there could have given me a legionellosis (so i drew a legionella bacteria - fortunately though, i didn't fall sick from drinking water from these taps)

had some fun making a grayscale scan of the same drawings and re-coloring them with gimp :3

[reasoningdaily]

Federal building employees push for temporary closure over Legionella concerns

DETROIT (WXYZ) — Employees working at the Patrick McNamara Federal building in downtown Detroit are pushing to have it temporarily closed for Legionella concerns.

7 Action News first reported on issues within the building in December after the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) found elevated levels of lead, copper, and legionella in water in several sites throughout the building.

Ingesting copper, lead, and Legionella in drinking water can cause digestive issues, brain damage, and Legionnaire's disease among other health issues.

A group of employees working at the federal building say the 7 Action News December report was the first time they’d even been notified. At least two more agencies with office spaces at the McNamara building have moved to remote work or deployed workers to other facilities after hearing the report. Now employees say they want the building closed until GSA can 100% guarantee the building is safe.

"I don’t believe GSA is totally providing all information that they know. That makes it even scarier," said Monique Buchanan who has worked in the federal building for 15 years.

Buchanan is the president of AFGE Local 3239, which in part represents employees at the Social Security Field Office. She says she believes employees may have been ingesting the chemicals and bacteria for much longer than they realize.

"GSA has not identified at the earliest point that egionella and copper and lead has been in the water. My assumption is because we were on mandatory telework until about March of 2022, I am assuming when we re-entered the sites, this was there waiting on us. And I believe we’ve been taking in this water, washing our hands, breathing in the steam from hot water since at least March of 2022," said Buchanan.

Reports sent to building employees show over the last few months, GSA has run multiple tests at 120 sites. A November round of testing showed multiple sites with uncontrolled or poorly controlled levels of lead, copper, and Legionella.

Jan 2024 Report (December Testing) by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd

After taking several problem fountains and bathrooms out of service and performing enhanced flushing, GSA sent a letter stating that a December round of testing showed only one site still had elevated levels of copper. The letter also showed five sites including the bathrooms on the 21st floor still have uncontrolled levels of Legionella. It's unclear what percentage of total sites the 120 samples represent.

Employees say it's especially concerning because they service so many vulnerable populations.

"We have a range of public that comes into our buildings that rely on us of course for service primarily but, secondly their assumption is that they’re in a safe facility because it’s a federal site," said Buchanan. "The public will not access water fountains and water sites that are closed off but the areas that have not yet been tested, which is 75% of the building, is not closed off. So there are sites where potentially there is harm."

Greg Senden represents employees at another office within the building and says GSA has not been transparent enough throughout this process.

"I guess our concern is that GSA is not doing the job that they should be doing to maintain and keep the buildings that they operate safe," said Senden. "I would like to see GSA be more forthcoming with information. I would like to have the public and the employees that work in this building be made aware of what the issues are so they can decide for themselves whether it’s safe for them to be in the building."

Friday morning, 7 Action News reached out to GSA for a comment on what has been done to remedy the water issues since our December report however no one was immediately available.

The agency sent the following statement last month:

The safety of federal employees, the public and contractors working in federal buildings is GSA’s highest priority. Water tests conducted on Nov. 8 at the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building in Detroit determined elevated levels of Legionella in specific test points. GSA follows CDC guidance in addressing the risk of Legionella related illness. Immediately after receiving these test results, GSA notified building occupants, shut off the affected water outlets and restricted access to the outlets. In addition, GSA is continuing to flush water through these points while developing a full building water flushing and sampling testing plan. Additional testing is being conducted on the elevated test points. GSA continues to keep building occupants apprised of the latest safety precautions in place. Tanya Schusler Regional Public Affairs Officer  U.S. General Services Administration

"The goal here is not to point fingers or blame anyone. The goal here is just to make sure we have a safe facility here," said Buchanan.

Employees say they have also reached out to lawmakers to put pressure on GSA to remedy the issue. Senator Gary Peters who also has an office in the federal building sent the following:

“This is simply unacceptable. Members of the public who visit this building to access critical services, as well as the dedicated employees who work there, need to know that the water they are using is safe. I’ll continue pressing the General Services Administration to quickly and completely resolve this issue, and ensure they are responding to concerns like these effectively moving forward.” Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Testing at water sites within the building is still ongoing. The next round is expected later this month.

[foone]

Remember, if your robotgirl is liquid cooled, you shouldn't refill her reservoir with plain water. You need the specific liquid coolant stuff because it's got chemicals to keep anything from growing in it. Just like the windshield washer on your car, you refill it with the specific product for it, not just plain water.

Why? Because robot girls and cars both run warm. You don't want a reservoir of water sitting around, or you get shit growing in it.

Ever hear of Legionnaires' disease? Legionella bacteria growing in the air conditioning system infected nearly two hundred people at a hotel during a convention. It was airborne, and 29 people died.

So yeah. Get the coolant liquid. Don't cheap out on water, or your robot girlfriend becomes a walking infection vector.

[thebibliosphere]

Just found out something that you might already know, but I thought you should hear about just in case. Apparently many showerheads have biofilms in them, and when they're used they basically aerosolize bacteria/fungi/etc, which I imagine would be very bad for you and is a definite possibility in your nightmare house. There are a couple of studies, but this is the one I was looking at:

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30377276/&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwi2z4Pm5vmAAxUTJUQIHXJaA94QFnoECAoQAg&usg=AOvVaw27mmBTVT8fjgzdUsLcg6oG

Oh yeah, that stuff is nasty (link for anyone who wants it). It's one of the reasons I bought all new showerheads when we moved in here. I didn't want to even try cleaning whatever the fuck I'd find 😓

I was always hyper-aware of stuff like this, too, because my mum had a friend who caught Legionnaires’ disease after she moved into a house that'd been dormant for a while, so the shower and water tank became a breeding ground for Legionella bacteria. Her kids got sick too. Freaked my mother the hell out. When we were kids, she used to take the showerheads off and soak them in vinegar every few months as part of her deep cleaning.

No idea if that helped or not, but it always made the fixtures shiny.

[mindblowingscience]

A mysterious and rapid rise in Legionnaires' disease, a severe bacterial lung infection, has been linked to cleaner air, in a US study of trends in sulfur dioxide pollution. Puzzled by the lengthy global upsurge in Legionnaires' disease, an atypical form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, researchers at two US universities and the New York State Department of Health investigated possible environmental factors that could explain the trend in their neck of the woods.

Continue Reading.

[darkmaga-retard]

Story at-a-glanceLegionnaires’ disease first entered the American consciousness in 1976 when scores of people were sickened and 29 died of a mysterious lung infection at a hotel convention in PhiladelphiaExperts have pointed to what is now called Legionella bacteria found in water sources as the culprits behind Legionnaires’ disease, which typically causes pneumonia, as well as vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and mental confusionThe U.S. CDC reports that 8,000 to 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaires’ annually, although it takes doctors time to determine what it is, as the symptoms at first seem like a typical, mild respiratory infectionTo ensure optimal air and water quality, clean your air conditioner, heat ducts and filters regularly, and provide filtered water for every member of your family to avoid deadly bacteria

[beardedmrbean]

Five people have developed Legionnaires' disease following possible exposure to contaminated water droplets from a cooling tower in downtown Lincoln, New Hampshire, state health officials say.

The five people developed the disease —  a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria — in June and July, New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Human Services said in a news release Monday.

They “may have been exposed” at a cooling tower located behind the RiverWalk Resort, a hotel in a bustling tourist area in downtown Lincoln, authorities said.

Testing by the DHHS and the state Department of Environmental Services confirmed the presence of Legionella bacteria contaminating the cooling tower.

The five individuals didn’t share specific location of exposure but had reported visiting various areas of downtown Lincoln, the DHHS said. 

Four of the five people diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease were initially hospitalized and later discharged. All five have recovered from their illnesses, state health officials told NBC News Tuesday. 

“RiverWalk is partnering with DHHS to address the contamination, with additional test results for the cooling tower expected next week,” the release said.

As the cooling tower is still operating amid remediation, “there may continue to be some risk of exposure to the public, especially for people within a half-mile of the cooling tower’s location,” officials warned, sharing a photo of the radius of potential Legionella exposure. The remediation work includes mechanical cleaning and disinfection of the entire cooling system, and long-term cleaning and water management plans.

RiverWalk Resort told NBC Boston on Monday that remediation work, including a complete sanitation, at the cooling tower was completed after starting Friday morning.

“We have been and will continue to partner with DHHS and DES to ensure the safety and protection of our guests and community,” Vice President Renee Blood said in a statement.

Legionella bacteria exists naturally in bodies of fresh water but can be a threat to people when it grows and spreads in building water systems like cooling towers or water tanks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Most people catch Legionnaires' disease by inhaling the bacteria from water in the form of small water droplets or mist, the CDC said. Infections generally don’t spread from person to person.

While most healthy people exposed to Legionella don’t get sick, those who are older, current or former smokers, those with weakened immune systems or certain medical conditions including chronic lung disease and diabetes are at higher risk for developing the disease, state health officials said.

Many exposed to the bacteria develop mild symptoms or none at all. However, it can cause a more serious pneumonia called Legionnaires' disease, “which can be fatal if left untreated,” the release said. Symptoms, such as fever, cough and shortness of breath, usually appear two to 14 days after exposure. 

Dr. Benjamin Chan, New Hampshire's state epidemiologist, warned: “Anybody who has visited the area near the contaminated cooling tower should monitor themselves for symptoms.”

“People who develop fever or other symptoms of pneumonia within 14 days after spending time in this area should talk to their healthcare provider about testing for Legionella infection,” he said.

[lesbiansandgayssupporttheminers]

Who knew putting people on prison barges was a terrible idea?

[willcodehtmlforfood]

"Migrants are being temporarily removed from the Bibby Stockholm barge after traces of Legionella bacteria were found in the on board water system.

The BBC understands that routine testing was done before migrants moved on to the vessel, moored in Dorset.

But test results showing traces of the bacteria came back only after migrants had moved to the barge.

The Home Office said the 39 migrants living aboard were being disembarked while assessments are carried out.

Legionella is the bacteria that can cause Legionnaires disease - a type of pneumonia."

Stockholm syndrome

Edit:

"Ruairi Kelly lived on the vessel for several months in 2013, when it was berthed in the Shetlands for a gas pipeline project.

He told The Independent it was “not luxurious” and felt more like a cross-Channel ferry than living quarters. The government is set to cram in 500 asylum seekers onto the barge – two to a room in bunks and more than double its previous capacity.

Mr Kelly, who was working on the Laggan-Tormore gas plant project as a health and safety adviser, said there were “never two people in a room at one time” because they were so small.

He recalled “cramped conditions” and said he and his colleagues could spend only three weeks at a time on board due to the squeezed living quarters."

[soldan56]

Legionella nella rete idrica 

Health-risk bacteria forces UK to remove #migrants from barge #BibbyStockholm 

[ceilidhtransing]

"Why do you need to put yourself in a box" has got to be one of the dumbest things people say to queer people when we come out, for so many reasons.

First off, it's extremely telling that they view "being gay", "being bisexual", "being trans" etc as "being in a box", but not "being straight". It makes you want to ask in response, "so are you straight?" and when they inevitably answer "yes", replying with "but why would you want to put yourself in a box like that?" It's always a request not to identify as something queer; it's never a request not to identify as straight.

Secondly, it's so often paired with "why do you need a label; can't we all just be human". Which is even more telling as to the way they seem to think that identifying as queer in some way is putting a condition on one's humanity - like straight people just get to be "human" whereas, say, a bi person is "human (bisexual)". Further, I will think about "not needing a label" and "just being human" when that's the way society starts to treat queer and trans people - when it's such a non-issue that the distinction between queer and not queer almost ceases to matter. But as long as my ability to live a full and happy life is constrained by queerphobia, by people who view me not as a person but as an Issue, I can't "just be human".

Plus, putting a word to your identity does not make you any less part of the broader category of human. Funnily enough, it's often reminded me of... bacteria. To most people, people who aren't microbiologists specialising in this stuff, bacteria is just bacteria. We know there are many different types but we don't know much about them and certainly couldn't identify them if we saw them. But a microbiologist can say "this one is salmonella, this one is legionella, this one is Clostridium botulinum..." Someone responding to that with "but that's silly! You don't need all these labels! They're all just bacteria!" would be crazy. Yes, they are all bacteria, and for many situations, merely knowing that something is bacteria is good enough - but there are also situations in which you need to know what type it is. The differences don't go away just because someone is insisting on oversimplifying them all down to merely "bacteria", in the same way that insisting that "we're all just human" doesn't actually do away with the differences between people, it just erases them.

Ultimately, the message I get from people who say things like "why do you need to put yourself in a box", "why do you need a label", "why can't you just be human" etc is that putting a word to difference, pointing out a difference in a way that can't be ignored, makes them uncomfortable. They don't like the fact that humanity is diverse and would rather be able to ignore that, because when difference is non-specific and nameless, it doesn't have to be acknowledged. They want to continue burying their head in the sand with the idea that they "don't have an issue with gay people", but can't handle the idea of finding out that a specific person they know is gay. That's why this type of person happens to very frequently also be the "but don't make it your whole personality" type. They want to keep moving through the world blindly assuming everyone around them is basically the same as them because they fundamentally conceive of difference as a bad and shameful thing and have deluded themselves into thinking that that the real way to solve inequality is to just never make difference explicit.