The BBC ran a report on BBC 1 London Breakfast this morning about legionnaires disease in potting compost. The risk of legionnaires diseases is real and can be fatal.

However, when you ask most people if they know what legionnaires disease is the answer is no. This lack of awareness leads to sporadic infections on an annual basis throughout the country. Unfortunately these sporadic infections rarely get reported.

Legionnaires disease only tends to capture the limelight or reach the press when a large outbreak occurs and a number of people are infected or die.

Unknown to most people, the risk of infection can be found from a range of water sources including water or moisture in potting composts. It is not actually the compost that causes legionella, it is the moisture trapped within the soil or compost where the legionella bacteria live and grow.

If the bacteria enters the moisture in the soil or compost it will grow rapidly if conditions are right. When the compost or soil is worked the trapped moisture can be released via a vapour which is then inhaled. Inhaling the moisture or vapour released from the compost when worked during potting or gardening can lead to infection and ultimately legionnaires disease which can be fatal.

However, it is also important to highlight that  legionnaires diseases can also be contracted from a simple domestic water system at home or at work.  If a domestic water system is poorly managed, maintained or seldom used and the bacteria enters the system then it will grow and could lead to the potentially fatal infection.

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