Hi Speireag and group,
Next time you open a bag of potting
compost please take great care..........
Legionella Longbeachae (a member of the
legionella family) is commonly found in
potting compost!
Inhaling compost dust can cause Legionnaires
Disease, which is a potentailly fatal respiratory
infection (similar to a pnumonia) that sadly has
a mortality rate of up to 10%.
A lady in Seattle, USA - opening a compost
bag, accidentally dropped it and unintentionally inhaled
the dust, unfortunately she contracted this
dreadful disease. Although she survived
complications during treatment have caused
severe discomfort, pain and personal hardship.
http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4934a1.htm
Am advised that compost bags in Australia
have warning labels and a campaign for labelling
is planned in Gardening Magazines and for better
labelling worldwide.
And manufacturers are being chased down to
provided a safer product, however in the meantime
please take a moment to educated your family
and friends, you could save a precious life.
Need proof?
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm4934.pdfhttp://www.nevdgp.org.au/travel/dis/hcs_Legionnaires97.htmhttp://hna.ffh.vic.gov.au/phb/hprot/inf_dis/bluebook/legionel.htmhttp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/molbio/journals/aem90.dathttp://www.jsinc.com/alive/news/sep00/legion04090300.asp
Regards,
John Herbert
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