this post was submitted on 07 Jul 2026
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Apparently that particular bacteria is basically everywhere on the environment and amounts of it around is pretty harmless. Datacenter just offered a nice and warm environment for it to prosper and then dumped the shitload of bacteria into water treatment system and the treatment plants can't manage that much of it properly.
Also, while it could be deadly, it's more likely that you'll have couple of miserable days on the porcelain throne. But almost any underlying condition (being old, having any kind of gut issues, having flu...) can tip the scale and instead of literally shitty ilness you'll end up in a box.
While Meta is of course guilty here on multiple things one might argue that local government is equally responsible since they allowed Meta to connect their sewer pipe in the first place without proper precautions. But maybe Zuck just had to have a new limousine or whatever so responsibility part was skipped.
The article mentions that the datacenter is run by a 3rd party. I'm not arguing to absolve Meta here, but I think this is a classic case of diffusion of responsibility. The more contractors and subcontractors that get involved in stuff like this, the more these kinds of problems crop up.
Why are you downplaying this behavior?
Tech companies and their subsidiaries would be wise to control their emissions and fluid output, ensuring the safety and the health of those around them - including respecting the planet we live on.
It's their responsibility.
Did you read the article? While infections aren't common, it has a ~31% death rate.
Yes, but infections are somewhat rare on healthy adults, at least based on a quick search around the net about the virus. If you have some underlying condition you're more likely go get the infection in the first place and as your immune system is already weakened by something it's going to be more dangerous.
"Yes, but infections are somewhat rare on healthy adults, ..."
So we only need be concerned when healthy adults are at risk?
This reasoning is unreasonable.
Don't put words in my mouth. I didn't say anything about not needing to be concerned, I was just interested on what kind of virus they cooked in the datacenter-incubator and how that might affect on a general population. "Deadly bacteria", while not incorrect, is a bit clickbait-y, as it doesn't just kill everyone and their dogs.
Of course there are reasons to be concerned and Meta should absolutely throw boatloads of money to clean up their mess. I was just interested about the bacteria in general, where it came, how it works and so on, nothing more and nothing less. I'm across the big pond and in here environmental regulations actually work, so I personally am not the one who should get angry about the situation, but it doesn't mean that no one should, even if I don't explicitly say so.
If 30% of those that contract it die, it is quite a deadly bacteria. Very few bacterial infections are that deadly, and certainly any of them would be a serious public safety issue if there was a risk of exposure.