Disease cannot be spread from person to person and there is no evidence of infection from window air conditioning units and air conditioners in cars. It is estimated that 8,000 to 18,000 people get Legionnaire s Disease in the U.S. every year. Generally, outbreaks of the disease are not large and only a few individuals are affected. Incubation period for Legionnaire s Disease is 5-6 days from exposure. Symptoms of Legionnaire s Disease include fever, chills, and a cough, which may be dry or may produce sputum.
Some people also have muscle aches, headaches and tiredness.
Other individuals are susceptible to a milder version of the disease called Pontiac fever, which produces flu-like symptoms and requires no specific treatment. Treatment for Legionnaire s Disease includes the use of antibiotics such as erythromyacin, rifampin or other drugs for individuals who cannot tolerate erythromyacin. At NASA, our cooling towers are treated with biocides. The biocides are introduced into the cooling tower waters via an automated system twice a week. The initial dose of biocide is added based on the volume of the system and then adjusted based on sampling results.