Nasty Topic

Let's talk about something nasty. No, not that ~ mind out the gutter please. I mean, something REALLY nasty. (And though it might be gross, please read to the end...)

Legionella. It's a rod-shaped bacteria that thrives in standing water sources such as ponds, wells, cooling towers, air conditioner ducts and hot tubs. Legionella is spread as an aerosol, meaning the bacteria are contained in small water droplets. (Think hairspray affects)

Once the bacteria enters the lungs, it feeds on living tissue and it doesn't always respond well to penicillin-based antibiotics. Though the bacteria is in water sources, it must be breathed into the lungs, not swallowed, in order to become problematic. Incubation period is from two to ten days, starting with the initial symptom of fatigue. Followed with high fever, coughing, diarrhea, nausea, headaches, muscle aches, chest pain, shortness of breath, ending with the potential of death. Serious stuff, no?

Why bring this up? Let me switch topics for a second...

Government officials are only concerned with the bottom line - the budget. Have you heard on the news about universities making cuts? It not just about larger class sizes, fewer staff members or less course offerings. In order to cut expenditures by millions, they will risk the very lives that attend the school. Included in the cuts are huge decreases in maintenance. What does a university have to maintain? It's just a building with desks, right?


When the budget cuts maintenance, this includes proper care of certain university units that keep the AIR in the classrooms clean. The students fill in the classrooms for higher education and are getting a high dose of bacteria along with the lecture. There's something horribly wrong with this picture.... Will it take an outbreak in the likes of 29 people that died at the Legionnaire's convention in Philadelphia from the bacteria before they realize the mistake?!

Government cares about the bottom line. Here it is - Legionella kills. What is the price of life?