Legionnaires’ and some Viral Pneumonias

Abstract

In 1976 a hitherto unrecognised form of bacterial pneumonia with a 15 percent mortality rate struck many of the participants at an American Legionnaires’ Convention held in Philadelphia. Subsequently this new form of pneumonia became known as Legionnaires’ disease. Fatal infections are almost entirely restricted to persons already suffering from other disease such as cancer, leukaemia or a malignant lymphoma. Since the original outbreak many sporadic and several small epidemics have occurred in many countries throughout the world.