London is currently dealing with a serious lung sickness called Legionnaires' disease. So far, one person has died, and more than 40 people have gotten sick in just the past week. The Middlesex-London Health Unit has announced this as an outbreak. The Health Unit UK is working closely with provincial health groups to find out where this sickness started. This involves taking samples from different cooling systems, which can take some time. Officials know people are eager to find the source, and they are too, but they don't have an exact location yet. Teams are busy collecting water samples and swabs from cooling systems. They'll then compare these to samples from the sick people, hoping to find a common source. Normally, only a few cases of Legionella, the bacteria that causes the disease, are reported each month. However, the number suddenly jumped to 43 new cases, which is why the outbreak was declared. Health officials think the recent warm weather probably played a role in this increase, as the number of cases was much higher than what they usually see at this time of year. What is Legionnaires' Disease? The National Health Services UK explains that Legionnaires' disease is caused by tiny bugs called Legionella bacteria. These bugs are naturally found in water sources like hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, large pipes, and parts of air conditioning systems. It's important to understand that this sickness does not spread from person to person. People get sick when they breathe in tiny drops of water or mist that contain these bacteria. Most people who are exposed to the bacteria don't get sick, but some might get a milder, flu-like illness called Pontiac fever. Where Is This Bacteria Found? Legionella bacteria are naturally found in water sources like hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems, and parts of air-conditioning systems. People get sick if these bacteria become airborne as mist (from wind or fans) and are then inhaled. Most people exposed to Legionella don't get sick, though some might get a milder, flu-like illness called Pontiac Fever, which usually goes away on its own. People who are older, have lung problems, or have weaker immune systems are at a higher risk of getting a serious infection. It's important to remember that Legionella does not spread from person to person. Important Health Guidelines to Follow If you develop symptoms like fever, cough, or shortness of breath, you should seek medical attention right away. The Health Unit asks all business owners and property managers to make sure their cooling equipment is regularly maintained and cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions. This is the best way to prevent future outbreaks. The Middlesex-London Health Unit also listed some commonly asked questions regarding the disease, Will Masks Help? While face masks can reduce your risk of getting respiratory illnesses, including Legionella, the general public's risk for Legionnaires' disease is currently low. Because of this, the Health Unit is not recommending widespread community masks to use specifically to prevent this disease. Legionella bacteria can spread over a large area through the air. The exact source of this current outbreak hasn't been found yet. At this time, it's not known if this outbreak is from the same location as last year's Legionella outbreak. However, this possibility is being considered as part of the ongoing investigation.