Local pediatric doctor offices have seen an increase in the number of children they are seeing who turn out to have Legionnaire’s disease, a potentially deadly form of pneumonia, with the cause likely being the water they are drinking.
A doctor’s office has confirmed this to Lakewood Alerts, saying that they believe contaminated tap water is responsible for the rise in pneumonia cases. Contaminated tap water is the most common way people contract the illness.
Symptoms of the disease include cough, fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, nausea, and confusion. While most cases are individual infections and don’t cause serious symptoms, experts note that the disease can be deadly for vulnerable populations.
Fortuitously, New Jersey lawmakers have in recent day sent Governor Phil Murphy a bill aimed at preventing and controlling Legionnaires’ disease. The legislation, approved by both the Senate and Assembly in late June, requires community water systems to maintain a certain level of disinfectant to limit the growth of the Legionella bacteria.
The bill also mandates notification of water distribution disruptions, such as main breaks or flooding, and the creation of a public portal to track these incidents. Additionally, a public dashboard will monitor reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease, which can be treated with antibiotics if detected early.
Governor Murphy has 45 days to sign or veto the bill, which could make New Jersey a model for Legionnaires’ disease prevention nationwide.
I am a little bit confused.
Are you saying that we should avoid the tap water in Lakewood?