A Bethlehem, PA university worker has recently been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, the deadly form of pneumonia. So far, this is an isolated case, with only the one worker having a confirmed diagnosis. Students, staff, and faculty were notified of the incident as soon as the worker’s case was confirmed according to the University. The University immediately tested their heating and cooling system and water system after the diagnosis was reported. The water system tested clean, however, the HVAC system test came back positive for the presence of legionella, the bacteria that causes the disease. The ventilation system was shut down and cleaned thoroughly, reports indicate. It is currently up and running again.

A Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) employee, Robert Pierce, who worked as a vehicle washer recently passed away after contracting Legionnaires Disease. The CTA responded by closing down down two of its facilities and the vehicle washing equipment. Legionella is the common bacteria that resides in water and causes the form of pneumonia known as Legionnaires’ Disease. It is most likely Mr. Pierce was exposed to water droplets or vapor originating from a stagnant water source used by the vehicle washing equipment. Stagnant water is often a breeding area for the legionella bacteria. If water systems are not properly cleansed and maintained, the legionella bacteria can easily contaminate the entire system. For this reason misters, showers, and hot tubs are most at risk for containing legionella. The CTA has alerted 800 of its employees that may be at risk for the disease. An investigation regarding the disease’s source is still ongoing.

Ryan Settlemoir, of the Madison Heights, Michigan police force, died earlier this month after testing positive for legionnellosis and H1N1 (also known as swine flu). The exact cause of death is yet to be determined. Officer Settlemoir’s death occurred in the wake of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak which has affected more than 20 other police officers. Tests of the police municipal building’s various water sites concluded the presence of the legionnella bacteria spread throughout the water system.

A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at a Madison Heights police station has left ten out of the twenty-two police officers ill with the disease. The police station’s water system is currently being treated for the legionella bacteria.

The Onondaga County Health Department in New York State have confirmed that two people have died from Legionnaires’ Disease after contracting the disease in May, 2009. One victim of the disease was a resident of Van Duyn Nursing Home. At this time no connection has been made regarding a possible outbreak source.

Legionella bacteria was found at Ealing Broadway which is a very busy tube stop in the London underground. The bacteria was found in the water taps in the bathroom. Someone could contract Legionnaire’s disease as a result of inhaling water particles containing the bacteria as a result of using the taps. A “deep clean” was performed by the local authorities to deal with the problem.

One person at a retirement home in Lansdale, Pennsylvania has been diagnosed with Legionnaire’s disease according to the Montgomery County Health Department.

A bio-environmental assessment was done at Wright-Patterson Air Force base in Dayton, Ohio after two office workers employed at the base died and a third contracted Legionnaire’s disease. Four others became ill with upper respiratory diseases. The assessment, according to the Air Force, did not reveal the presence of legionella bacteria.

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has placed special filters on all faucets because of higher than normal levels of legionella in the water supply in December 2008. Legionella bacteria is the cause of Legionnaires’ disease. There have, however, been no reported cases of the disease at the University.

Under investigation is a recent spike in Legionnaires’ disease at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Four patients at the hospital have contracted Legionnaires’ disease within the past month. Several Hospital floors have been shut down to prevent additional illness. Hospital administrators are cooperating with State Health Department officials in order to determine the cause of the outbreak.

UPDATE: The source of the Legionalla at Grady Memorial Hospital was determined to be the water in two units. Those units, as well as additional floors, have been super-chlorinated in an effort to rid the building of the bacteria. The effort is ongoing.