According to the National Business Review, an elderly woman has died on Wednesday after acquiring Legionnaires’ disease.  Auckland Public Regional Health Services (APRHS) reported 11 cases stemming from a mid-February outbreak.  This is the first death since the outbreak.  Buildings in Auckland have been treated with chemicals this week to avoid further outbreaks, although it is still unknown which buildings were advised to do so.  Medical officer of health Simon Baker stated: “The cases are dispersed so widely over the city and you have only got to take one breath of contaminated air to get infected…I would expect we would see more cases because it will be at least two weeks before we know if [chemical treatments] made any difference”.  Health officials hope that the decontamination steps being taken will help prevent further spread of Legionella and further loss of life.

Updates will follow as they become available.

Please see the following article for more information:

http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/legionnaires-outbreak-claims-first-life-more-may-die-co-115960

According to CBS Baltimore, the Allegany County Housing Authority is still struggling to kill Legionella bacteria that were found in a senior-citizen housing complex.  Four months ago, a resident of the complex became ill after contracting Legionnaires’ disease.  Initially, a superheating process was used to clear the bacteria out of the water system, but Legionella returned.  This time, the water system at the apartment complex is being treated with high levels of chlorine by a private firm.  Residents have been told to avoid using the showers and to utilize distilled water, for those using medical devices, until the Legionella has been successfully eradicated.

For more information, please refer to the following sources:

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/03/28/legionella-proves-stubborn-foe-at-westernport-senior-site/

According to the Ongar Gazette, the Ongar Sports and Social Club has shut down its showers after they were found to contain a “high risk” of legionella.

A contractor has been hired to disinfect the showers this week, and the club may also purchase new water tanks at an estimated cost of £12,000. The rest of the club is still open, and there is no indication that the water outside the shower system contains any traces of legionella bacteria. The showers are expected to reopen this weekend.

For more information, please reference the article below:

http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/Showers-shut-health-inspection/story-15516526-detail/story.html

The Jerusalem Health Ministry announced on March 14^th that since the beginning of this year, doctors have diagnosed legionella infections in three infants under the age of one, the Jerusalem Post reports. Last year, the Ministry reported three other infant diagnoses of the disease.

This occurrence is noteworthy because the disease usually affects adults, and the elderly in particular. According to the Health Ministry, proper maintenance of public buildings should be ensured to prevent future infections. Right now, the diagnoses of the disease have been limited to the Center and coastal regions.

For more information, please reference article below:

http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=261913#

Update on Guernsey Hospital Still Combatting Legionella Bacteria and Legionella in Hospital Guernsey Hospital Water Supply.

According to BBC News, the Princess Elizabeth Hospital in Guernsey has eradicated legionella bacteria from its water system. Ed Freestone, a representative from the hospital’s health department, has stated that the hospital has finally “cleared it out of the system” and “cracked the problem.”

The hospital initially used chemicals, but when that did not produce the desired results resorted to heat treatment of the pipes.

Though the source of the bacteria has not been identified, water lying stagnant in the pipes during some areas of “redundant pipe work” was stated to be a possibility. From now on, the hospital plumbing will be flushed regularly, BBC News reports.

For more information, please reference article below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-17365427?print=true

According to the Parramatta Advertiser, Western Sydney has experienced an increase in Legionnaires’ Disease cases this year. Six cases were reported in February 2012, compared to only one case in February 2011.

The source is yet to be determined, but the Western Sydney Local Health District has warned business owners and occupiers to ensure that their cooling towers are not contaminated, and if so to treat them accordingly.

Updates to follow as they become available.

For more information, please reference the article below:

http://parramatta-advertiser.whereilive.com.au/news/story/local-rise-in-legionnaires-disease-prompts-warning/

According to ABC News, an 81-year-old woman and her two children in Maryland died after contracting “severe respiratory illnesses.” A fourth family member is currently hospitalized in critical condition at the Washington Medical Center.

Health officials are still trying to determine the illnesses of those involved. The elderly woman initially became ill around February 23, and died March 1. Her son and daughter, both in their 50s, developed symptoms around February 28 when they came to take care of her.

Infectious disease specialists have several conjectures about the illnesses. Influenza, pneumonia, and Legionnaires’ disease have all been suggested as possibilities. Environmental causes such as toxins or carbon monoxide could have also been the cause. Dr. William Schaffner, chair of preventative medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, stated in the article that if it were indeed Legionnaires’ disease, there would need to be “an investigation of the heating and air conditioning systems” of the woman’s home.

The Calvert County Health Department announced that no one outside the family has fallen ill, and they have not declared any community recommendations at this time, ABC News reports.

For more information, please see the following article:

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/03/06/mystery-illness-kills-three-in-maryland-family/

According to sources, Meridian Bioscience has received approval by the FDA for its test, TRU Legionella, which can detect Legionnaires’ disease.  The diagnostic distinguishes Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1, which commonly leads to Legionnaires’ disease amongst those who contract the bacteria.  The test has the ability to expedite detection of bacteria, leading to faster diagnoses and treatment of the disease.  Legionnaires’ disease is believed to be an under-diagnosed illness, and only accounts for 5-8% of the 4-5 million pneumonia cases each year in the U.S.  Meridian believes TRU Legionella will lead to increased diagnoses of Legionnaires’ disease, once the test begins to be utilized by hospitals and researchers.  This may be an important development and updates will be posted as soon as they become available.

For additional information, please see the following articles:

http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/70540/Meridian’s+Legionella+Test+Cleared

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Meridian-Bioscience-Receives-bw-2866860459.html

According to WebWire reports, the American Society of Refrigeration, Heating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) will pass a new standard, ASHRAE 188, this year for conducting Legionella bacteria risk assessment in buildings that meet one of the following criteria—whether it is privately or government owned:

1)      Multiple housing units with one or more centralized water heaters

2)      Any public or private building that has 10 or more stories

3)      Any hospital or nursing home, regardless of the size, where patients are over 65 years old

4)      Any building regardless of size, which has a cooling tower or evaporative condenser

5)      Any building that has one or more hot tubs, whirlpool spas, or water features that release aerosolized water

6)      Any building that receives incoming water that has less than 0.5 ppm residual halogen concentration

WebWire reports that the ASHRAE 188 standard is the first of its kind and now exposes building owners to legal liability for any cases of Legionnaires’ disease that develop from their buildings’ water supply system.

Updates will be posted as they become available.

For additional information, please see the report below:

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=153558

Update on the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at Best Western in Albany, NY.

MSNBC is reporting that water test results released in late February show that legionella bacteria, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease, is still in the Best Western Sovereign Inn in Albany, NY. Repeated tests of the water supply at the hotel have come back positive for legionella bacteria since six guests became ill with Legionnaires’ disease in late 2011.

MSNBC quotes Albany County spokeswoman Mary Rozal’s warning to the hotel, “essentially the hotel is being put on notice. You’ve tried to remediate this yourself. It hasn’t worked.”

According to MSNBC reports, the hotel is off of reservation lists of online booking sites like Expedia because of the Legionnaires’ problem and health department notices are posted on the doors of every room stating that the hotel’s water system had higher than normal levels of legionella.

Updates will be posted as they become available.

For additional information, please see the report below:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46551177/ns/local_news-albany_ny/t/some-hotel-guests-albany-may-be-risk-legionnaires-disease/