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Legionnaires' disease

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Informal an acute respiratory infection, often with pneumonia, caused by bacteria (Legionella pneumophila) that may contaminate water or soil

Origin: after an outbreak of the illness at an American Legion convention in July, 1976

See Legionnaires' disease in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

An acute, sometimes fatal respiratory disease caused by a bacterium of the genus Legionella, especially L. pneumophila, and characterized by severe pneumonia, headache, and a dry cough.

Origin:

Origin: So called because it was first recognized when an outbreak occurred during an American Legion Convention in Philadelphia in 1976

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