Annual Legionella Conference Rescheduled To January 2021

NSF Health Sciences and the National Environmental Health Association co-host the conference focusing on prevention of deadly outbreaks

Legionella Conference: Prevention of Disease and Injury From Waterborne Pathogens in Health Care originally scheduled for Aug. 19-21, 2020 will be rescheduled to Jan. 20-22, 2021.

The conference will be held at the same location, Sheraton Grand Hotel on Chicago’s downtown river walk.

Co-hosts NSF Health Sciences and the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) are rescheduling the conference because of public health and safety concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Legionella Conference will bring together public health leaders, policy makers, regulators, researchers, infection prevention practitioners and water management systems experts to discuss preventing deadly waterborne disease outbreaks in hospitals and health care settings.

NSF is a global public health organization experienced in supporting businesses to develop, implement and maintain COVID-19 best practices. LC2021 will be organized following these practices as well as those issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and event planning organizations.

Legionella has been in the news recently as a potential unintended consequence of shuttered buildings of all sizes and purposes during the pandemic quarantine. The bacteria, which can cause the sometimes fatal Legionnaires’ disease, can amplify in the biofilm of water systems with no or low flow, tepid temperatures or a depleted disinfectant residual.

NSF and NEHA experts have responded through public outreach and thought leadership, outlined risk management actions to slow and prevent the spread of Legionella in water systems and compiled information and resources for environmental health professionals.

Preconference workshops will be held Jan. 18-19 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel.

Proposals continue to be accepted for expert speaker and poster presentations for the new conference dates.

For conference details, please visit the website at www.legionellaconference.org or email info@legionellaconference.org.

For more information, photos or media interviews, please contact Fran LeFort at media@nsf.org.

About NSF International
NSF International is an independent, global organization that facilitates standards development, and tests and certifies products to minimize adverse health effects. We provide risk assessments, testing, inspection and certification services for the water industry from source to tap. Separate from these services, NSF Health Sciences, LLC, an NSF International company, provides auditing, training, risk assessments and water safety plan development for building owners and managers concerned about water safety.

About The National Environmental Health Association
The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) currently serves nearly 7,000 members to advance the environmental health and protection professional for the purpose of providing a healthful environment for all. Professionals who earn a Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian credential from NEHA are recognized as having achieved an established standard of excellence. These environmental health professionals master a body of knowledge (which is verified by examination) and acquire sufficient experience to satisfactorily perform work responsibilities in the environmental health field.