Meaning of LEGIONNAIRE'S DISEASE

WordNet Dictionary
	Definition:		[n]  acute (sometimes fatal) lobar pneumonia caused by bacteria of a kind first recognized after an outbreak of the disease at an American Legion convention in Philadelphia in 1976; characterized by fever and muscle and chest pain and headache and chills and a dry cough
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	See Also:		lobar pneumonia
Biology Dictionary
	Definition:		Legionnaire's disease is a community-acquired pneumonia caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila. The elderly, immune-compromised, and smokers are particularly at risk of getting sick if they are exposed to this bacterium. Legionnaire's disease is caused by the bacterial species Legionella pneumonophila, a member of the family Legionellaceae, which begins with flu-like symptoms, then moves on to high fever, shaking chills, headaches, diarrhea, pneumonia, and pleurisy, and can result in death. The disease is highly contagious. The bacteria which causes this disease is only harmful when tiny droplets of water floating in the air containing the bacteria are inhaled, and does not cause harm when it is present in drinking water.
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