Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Legionnaire's Disease

A study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology (June 2010) suggests that using water for your windscreen wipers may not be a good idea, as it may encourage the bacteria responsible for Legionnaire's disease.

"Not adding screenwash to windscreen wiper fluid is a previously unidentified risk factor and appears to be strongly associated with community acquired sporadic cases of Legionnaires’ disease. We estimated that around 20% of community acquired sporadic cases could be attributed to this exposure. A simple recommendation to use screenwash may mitigate transmission of Legionella bacteria to drivers and passengers. "

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