Could your car wash visit KILL you? Two men struck down by deadly Legionnaires’ bug after inhaling water droplets… and experts warn it could happen anywhere
JUST visiting a car wash could be DEADLY, a shocking new study has found.
Two men became seriously ill in Italy after contracting Legionnaire's disease - by inhaling infected water droplets from two separate car washes.
Researchers from the University of Padua reported the two cases, but microbiologist Dr Tom Makin claims that the same risk applies in the UK.
The senior consultant at Legionella Control told the Mail Online: "Legionella bacteria grow in large numbers in water systems that get warm and remain idle for extensive periods of time, such as drive-through car wash systems."
"Car washes are capable of generating the right sized aerosols that can be inhaled into the lungs where the Legionella bacteria cause infection, such as pneumonia."
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Legionnaire's disease has a high fatality rate, with a 10% risk of death for those who catch it.
The serious lung infection is caused by Legionella bacteria, and affects around 500 people a year in England.
Public Health England recently warned that showers in over a million UK households could be harbouring the life threatening bacteria, putting families at risk.
What are the symptoms of Legionnaires' disease?
The serious disease is a severe form of pneumonia, and causes lung inflammation in those who catch it.
Symptoms usually develop between two to ten days after first being exposed to the Legionella bacteria, and include:
- Headaches
- Muscle pain
- High temperature
- Tiredness
- Chills
- Chest pains
- A persistent cough
- Shortness of breath
Warm water offers the perfect breeding ground for the bacteria to thrive.
In the Padua findings, published in the journal Annals of Hygenie, the scientists wrote that "any water source producing aerosols should be considered at risk for transmission of legionella bacteria."
Last year, Disneyland in California was forced to close two of their water cooler towers after nine visitors were struck down by Legionnaire's disease.
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