Legionnaires Disease in NYC and Plague in Yosemite

Legionnaires Disease in NYC and the Plague in Yosemite. The microbes are restless this summer. Must be the heat that has put them in a frenzy. Plague is caused by Yersinia pestis, a bacterium that is carried by fleas that transmit it to human or other mammals when they feed. Plagues was called the Black Death in the Dark Ages and is estimated to killed up to 200 million people between the years 1346–1353.

Xenopsylla cheopis flea

Yesinia pestis bacterium.

Legionnaires Disease is caused by bacteria in the genus Legionella. People contract it by breathing in airborne Legionella vegetative cells that become aerosolized from common sources such as cooling towers, sinks, showers and hot tubs. It is also known to colonize the lines of ice machines and in-line water fountains.

Legionella bacteria responsible for the latest outbreak of Legionnaires Disease in NYC

By Edward Sobek, PhD, MBA|2015-08-07T18:38:54-04:00August 7th, 2015|Bacteria|0 Comments

About the Author: Edward Sobek, PhD, MBA

Dr. Edward Sobek has 25 years of experience in microbiology and indoor air quality. He has a master’s degree in Plant Pathology from Iowa State University, where he studied Fusarium disease transmission in field crops. He received his doctorate degree from Texas Tech University where he studied the ecology of desert molds (mitosporic fungi). He obtained his Executive MBA in Healthcare leadership from the University of Tennessee's presidious Haslam School of Business in 2016. Dr. Sobek is an active researcher. He holds the appointment of Senior Research Scientist with the University of Tennessee’s Center for Environmental Biotechnology CEB and has developed and patented several mold detection technologies. He is a sought after speaker on the scientific circuit by educational and governmental organizations that are anxious to learn how to use DNA to detect mold in residential and commercial properties. He has also published a variety of scientific papers, book chapters, white papers, and trade articles for the IAQ industry.