How do you catch Legionnaires’ disease?
You can catch it by breathing in airborne particles from a water source that contains legionella bacteria, or after inhaling dust from soil, potting mix or compost.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms include a 'flu-like' illness with a rapid onset fever, muscle aches, tiredness, headache, loss of appetite, breathlessness and chest pain and a dry cough leading to pneumonia. The illness progressively worsens over several days.
How can I protect myself while gardening?
• Wear a well fitted, good quality mask and open the bag away from your face in a well ventilated space
• Open bags carefully using scissors rather than ripping the bag open
• Dampen down the potting mix or compost to prevent it blowing into your face
• Wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after handling potting mix.
If flu-like symptoms start to develop after handling potting mix/soil, contact your doctor and inform them of your recent gardening activity so they are aware it may not be a typical flu virus.
For other Better Health stories for November see:
