Drackett Tower at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio is now taking precautions after a student associated with the dorm hall was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. Legionnaires’ disease is a type of bacterial pneumonia caused by exposure to Legionella bacteria. This bacteria tends to thrive in water environments, and can cause illness when it is inhaled in the lungs through a mist or spray form of the contaminated water. Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease can include nausea, vomiting, coughing, confusion, and lethargy. Reportedly, the dorm had a water drain line collapse last month which required the line to be shut…
Franklin County Public health officials said both residents of the Manor at Whitehall nursing home tested positive for Legionella bacteria during July of 2017. Another test will be administered to confirm whether the residents specifically had Legionnaires’ disease, the bacterial pneumonia caused by exposure to Legionella bacteria. Both residents were reported to be in their 60’s, and were hospitalized for their injuries. An inspection of the facility’s plumbing, heating and cooling systems, as well as pipes and water systems was conducted to determine if the bacteria that caused the two residents to become ill came from within the nursing home. As…
Two inmates of the Franklin Medical Center prison hospital located at 1990 Harmon Ave in Columbus, Ohio were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. Administrators at the prison have indicated they are conducting environmental tests to determine the source of the Legionella bacteria responsible for these illnesses. Legionnaires’ disease is caused by inhaling Legionella bacteria either by drinking contaminated water or breathing in air that is contaminated with an aerosolized form of the bacteria, as often seen in mists from showers or spas. Not everyone who comes in contact with the bacteria becomes ill. However, those who are more likely to suffer from Legionella-related illness…
An apartment complex for seniors in Reynoldsburg, Ohio has been found to contain legionella bacteria. The residents, numbering around one hundred, have been advised by the Franklin County Health Department to not shower or use tap water at the complex. The legionella bacteria was found as part of a Health Department investigation focusing on the apartment complex. The investigation was initiated as a result of five residents acquiring Legionnaires’ Disease in the past year. The complex is now undergoing flushing and remediation of its water system. So far there has been no confirmed exact source of the legionella bacteria. The Health…
On December 20, 2016, a Complaint was filed in Lucas County Common Pleas Court by seven employees of Lucas County Department of Job & Family Services after the employees developed illnesses from exposure to Legionella bacteria. The cooling system within the company building located at 3210 Monroe Street, tested positive for Legionella bacteria. Six of the seven Plaintiffs are still employed at the company, while the seventh has since retired. The Complaint was filed as a product liability case against Watcon Inc. of South Bend, Ind.; Baltimore Aircoil Co. of Baltimore, Md.; Sarmento Mechanical Sales Inc. of Sylvania; the city…
A 54-year-old Cuyahoga County gentleman has died, and 10 more members of the Lake County community were sickened with Legionnaires’ disease. The cooling towers at Consolidated Precision Products (“CPP”) in Eastlake, Ohio were investigated this past October as possible sources of the bacteria after knowledge that between the months of July and September, one employee of CPP and two employees of neighboring companies became ill with the disease. Inspectors say that during the testing, one of the cooling towers at CPP tested positive for Legionella bacteria. Subsequently, the company released a statement that the facility’s production and cooling water systems- including the…
A research group called CU and the CDC comprised of both undergraduate students from Clemson and officials of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) had the privilege of naming a new strain of Legionella bacteria after the University- Legionella clemsonensis. The CDC sent 68 strains of Legionella bacteria that didn’t match up to any strains in the current database to Clemson students to analyze. Through sequencing two genes, the students were to determine if the species could be identified as one of the known strains of Legionella, or if the strains were new. These tests revealed that one of…