In message , Bob Hobden
writes
"Pendrag0n" wrote (BIG SNIP))

I suspect this go on in England a lot more but given the useless GPs
we seem to have in abundance these days it probably remnains
undiagnosed. So if you're going to catch anything do it in Oz or
Scotland.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18206191


Gardeners told 'wash off compost'By Eleanor Bradford

BBC Scotland Health Correspondent

Gardening is a healthy hobby but there are risks, says Dr Donaghy
Gardeners are being warned to wash their hands after using compost
following a series of Legionella cases in Scotland over the past five
years.

One man has died and five others have become ill after contracting a
rare strain called 'Legionella longbeachae', which appears to come
from compost.

The unusual strain is well known in Australia and New Zealand, where
bags of compost carry warning labels.

But these are the first cases linked to compost to be confirmed in the
UK.


Funny but I was just talking to an older nurseryman (Dunkirk Nursery,
Ripley Road, Egham, excellent for bedding and veg plants) and we were
discussing the modern composts. He uses Levingtons Professional with
some added ingredients of his own, it's basically a peat based compost
and he gets castigated by some customers for using it. However we both
agreed the new composted rubbish composts are just that with bits of
plastic and sticks common. They should really be sterilised before sale
for the health of the plants let alone the gardener, he's even heard a
rumour of trials to make composts out of chopped straw mixed with
sewage sludge, would anyone want to handle that?

Yup, sounds a sensible use of resources to me (poo + straw - sounds
rather like horse manure)

--
Chris French