Man in coma with Legionnaires' disease
An Edmonton man is in a coma with a probable case of Legionnaires' disease.
Dr. William Osei from the B.C. Northern Health Authority says the illness was flagged as a probable case of Legionnaires' disease by the provincial lab in Alberta, but the final confirmation has to come from the national lab based in Winnipeg.
The man's family is believed to have stayed in Valemont, B.C., over the holidays.
Legionnaires' disease is a type of lung infection caused by the Legionella pneumophila bacteria, which was named after a number of American Legion members got sick at a convention in Philadelphia in 1976.
"It can cause a spectrum disease from really mild, to a pneumonia, and the pneumonia can sometimes be very severe and indeed can sometimes be fatal," said Dr. Marcia Johnson, medical officer of health for the Edmonton zone of Alberta Health Services.
The Legionella pneumophila bacteria is not spread from person to person. Instead, it is found in areas where warm water pools like hot tubs, whirlpools and fountains. It can also be found in air conditioning systems.
Legionnaires' disease can be fatal in about 15 to 30 per cent of cases. Alberta had nine cases of the illness in 2011.
