Monitoring Building Water Systems in Puerto Rico to Prevent Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever

As recently as 2018, health departments in the United States reported nearly 10,000 cases of Legionnaires’ disease according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the agency reports that because Legionnaires’ disease is likely underdiagnosed, this number may underestimate the true incidence. 
 
Legionella is a type of bacterium found naturally in freshwater environments. It can become a health concern when it grows and spreads in human-made building water systems. If people are exposed to water containing Legionella in droplets small enough to be inhaled they could develop Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever. Legionnaires’ disease has a fatality rate of about 10%.
 
“The rate of reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease has grown by nearly nine times since 2000,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “The CDC has indicated that based on the agency’s investigations, approximately 90% of all outbreaks were caused by problems preventable with more effective water management. This is clear evidence that an effective water management program is essential for preventing outbreaks, especially in buildings with high risk populations. These include hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and anywhere with people with lung diseases, weakened or suppressed immune systems, or elderly residents.”
 
Helping to identify exposure risks and monitor building water management programs in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean are the Legionella experts at Zimmetry Environmental. They provide comprehensive Legionella testing and consulting services that are a vital part of a proactive plan. Zimmetry also recently sponsored an educational video about Legionella and monitoring building water that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/F_Ggg_uaL_s
 
To learn more about Zimmetry’s water, air, environmental, occupational, and compliance testing and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.
 

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail