Allotments 4 All

picked this up on the internet today, don't breath in the dust when opening
a bag of compost.
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1021542/Gardeners-warned-compost-danger-man-catches-deadly-legionnaires-disease.html

Wow,that is so scary.Will be a lot more careful in future.

Legionella longbeachae is extremely rare in the UK & not worth worrying about.
Legionnaires disease & Pontiac Fever are commoner and/or more severe in men (3x more likely than women to catch it), cigarette smokers, people over 50 years old, those with pre-existing lung disease and patients with deficient immune systems.
Legionella Pneumophila is responsible for most outbreaks of legionnaires' disease in the UK & that is not as common as it used to be as most hospitals hotels etc... where the outbreaks usually occurred now have measures in place to prevent the disease. Even L. Pneumophila only has an infection rate of around 5% the other 95% of people exposed to the bacteria suffer no ill effects whatsoever.

Hi Les, Hi all,  :)

QuoteHow you can catch deadly legionnaires' disease from garden compost

QuoteRetired gas engineer Drew Murphy, 59, was struck down with legionella longbeachae just days after opening a bag of fertiliser in his garden.

The report doesn`t seem very clear about the source of the infection and offers no evidence for the theory that gardening activities had anything to do with it.
That said, its wise to avoid inhaling dust, powders or fumes of any kind. I tend to be especially cautious of mould spores when moving autumn leaves for leaf mould.

Take care in your gardens, Col

The Mail loves a scare story doesn't it  ;D

Got more chance of getting run down by a Routemaster bus ... ...  ::) ::) ::)

Or Boris Johnson being elected Mayor of London...

...oh, God... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

 ;D ;D ;D  at Amazin.