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Can Legionella Be Contracted By Using Water Stored For Long Time?

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Posted on Wed, 15 Jun 2016
Question: I went to my father's village to attend a funeral. At a point i was desperate to go to the toilet. I left the church and went to our family house which was unused for 3 years. When i finished (i did not defecate as i thought) i realize that the house had no water. So i found on the shelf some bottles of water that were sitting there for 3 years. I used them to wash the part that sat on the toilet and my hands. IS THERE a chance to contact legionela like that?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (44 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
NO!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

There is no possibility of contracting legionella by simply using water that has been kept for two years. This is a germ which loves oxygen and will really not be able to make it through in a closed system with limited oxygen.

Be calm and relaxed about this. Also, you must have inhaled or ingested the contaminated water which is very unlikely. Therefore, there is no reason to be worried. Should any symptom come up, report to me for review and more insights.

I hope this helps. I wish you well. Feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (49 minutes later)
The reason I wrote to you is because in the morning I had some common cold symptoms like running nose, sore throat, upset stomach and a sore lower back to a mild extent though. I did not have fever. Do these symptoms tell you anything?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (20 hours later)
Brief Answer:
No!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Legionnaire’s disease often begins with fevers, headache, chills and muscle pain. Your symptoms are more suggestive of a possible upper respiratory tract infection than anything to do with legionnaires’ disease. These could be secondary but not primary!

Keep me updated and I wish you well.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Ivo Ditah

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 3984 Questions

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Can Legionella Be Contracted By Using Water Stored For Long Time?

Brief Answer: NO! Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. There is no possibility of contracting legionella by simply using water that has been kept for two years. This is a germ which loves oxygen and will really not be able to make it through in a closed system with limited oxygen. Be calm and relaxed about this. Also, you must have inhaled or ingested the contaminated water which is very unlikely. Therefore, there is no reason to be worried. Should any symptom come up, report to me for review and more insights. I hope this helps. I wish you well. Feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.