Legionnaires' - who cares?

Gardeners risk illness or death by ignoring advice

BY LYNDA PAPESCH

Garden safety has been in the news with recent cases of, and deaths from, legionnaires' disease.

Warnings from health authorities about the dangers of working with potting mix and compost have again raised the spectre of legionnaires' disease.

The latest outbreak of the notifiable disease has prompted calls for masks to be sold with bags of compost and potting mix.

Garden centre staff and nurserymen are also urging home gardeners to properly read the labels on the products.

Eight notified cases of legionnaires' disease this summer, including one death, have given rise to the current scare, which is the latest in a long line. In 2008, 76 cases were notified, including four deaths.

Legionella bacteria are commonly found in water and soils, including potting mix and compost. Recommendations for handling and warnings are printed on most bags of potting mix but, like the warnings on cigarette packets, many people don't bother to read them.

Legionnaires' dsease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia that can affect anybody but mainly targets those who are vulnerable because of age, illness, suppressed immunity and smoking.

Caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila and related bacteria that can be found naturally – but usually in low numbers – in water sources such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs, legionnaires' disease also commonly originates in purpose-built water systems.

These include cooling towers, central air conditioning systems, evaporative coolers, hot water systems, showers, spa pools, architectural fountains, room air humidifiers, ice-making machines and misting equipment.

People catch legionnaires' disease by inhaling small, bacteria-laden droplets of water or dust suspended in the air. Not all people exposed to legionella become ill, but those who do suffer symptoms similar to those of flu, such as high temperature, fever, chills, coughs, muscle pains and headaches.

In a bad case, there may also be pneumonia and, occasionally, diarrhoea and signs of mental confusion.

Legionella longbeachae, an organism in the Legionella family, is found in soils and compost – hence the need for gardeners to be vigilant.

First identified in 1976, the bacteria are constantly being found in new habitats and in greater numbers.

Between 1995 and 2005, more than 32,000 cases of legionnaires' disease and more than 600 outbreaks were reported to the European Working Group for Legionella Infections.

The largest outbreak happened in July 2001 in Spain. More than 800 suspected cases were recorded and at least six people died.

The source was traced to a cooling tower at a hospital.

Common sense will help gardeners avoid the disease, according to Marlborough Mitre 10 Mega garden centre manager Sandra McLauchlan.

"Wear a mask and gloves, and if the mix is dusty, wet it down," she said.

"It's a matter of people taking responsibility for themselves.

"More people are going back to home gardening, and they need to start reading the warnings on the products they're using.

"Most people just grab a bag, open it and start using it," she said, referring to potting mix and compost.

"They need to read and follow the instructions."

And it's not just bagged materials that gardeners need to be wary of, she added.

"There's all sort of dry, dusty materials in gardens; pea straw, for example.

"People need to avoid inhaling mould and potentially harmful bacteria. This means masks and gloves."

Staff at the garden centre have been alerting customers to the warnings on the back of potting mix and compost bags, and have been keeping a supply of masks at the checkouts.

In addition, all garden centre staff have been briefed on Ministry of Health and Nursery and Garden Industry Association safety guidelines.

 

SAFE GARDENING

Minimise the amount of dust when working in the garden.

Water gardens and indoor plants using a gentle spray.

Read the warning labels on bagged compost and potting mix.

Wear gloves.

Wear a dust mask to filter out dust.

Dampen potting mixes before use.

Open bags of soil products slowly, away from the face.

Make sure working areas such as glasshouses are well ventilated.

See a doctor if worsening flu-like symptoms develop.

Wash hands thoroughly after gardening or handling soil products.

For more information and advice, visit the websites: healthed.govt.nz/resources/saferandhealthiergardening osh.govt.nz/order/catalogue/pdf/legion-p.pdf

- The Marlborough Express