Legionella Unmasked: 1976 Philadelphia Outbreak Explained, Yet Outbreaks Endure

Fifty years after the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel outbreak, scientists identified Legionella pneumophila as the cause and learned it thrives in biofilms in water systems and can become airborne in aerosols; while building-water management, rapid diagnostics, and modern antibiotics have reduced risk, outbreaks persist due to diverse Legionella species, aging infrastructure, and environmental factors.