Samaritan Medical Center had its water retested on May 15, 2017 after the legionella bacteria was in found in the hospital’s water systems. The hospital originally reported that it expected testing results to be returned by the following Friday; however, Spokeswoman Krista A. Kittle says that the testing will not be completing on the samples for at least another 10 days. For more information, click here
Two adults who used a community pool and spa in Foothill Ranch, California were hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease over the past two months. The pool and spa were closed on May 12, 2017, and Orange County Health Officials have reported that water testing results are pending to determine whether or not the community pool/spa was the source of the Legionella bacteria that caused these two individuals to become ill. The Orange County Health Care Agency said in a letter on May 12, 2017, that legionellosis occurs when people breathe in mist or vapor that has been contaminated with the Legionella…
Samples taken from the water system at Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, New York tested positive for low levels of Legionella on May 8, 2017. The Legionella was found in the Pratt building, which is the oldest part of the hospital. It is believed that the infrequently used faucets, old pipes, and recent construction in this part of the facility may be the cause of the contaminated water. Spokeswoman Krista A. Kittle has stated that the facility has since replaced the valves and begun to flush the water lines daily. Legionella bacteria can cause respiratory illnesses such as Legionellosis and…
On Monday, May 8th Samaritan Medical Center, in Watertown, NY, reported that it had found legionella bacteria in the hospital’s water system while conducting quarterly water quality tests. The spokesperson for Samaritan Medical Center stated that the levels of legionella bacteria were low and that the remediation of the hospital’s water system would be conducted by the next day. As of now there have been no cases of Legionnaires’ Disease reported by the Jefferson County Department of Health or Samaritan Medical Center. More information about the discovery of legionella bacteria can be found here. Jules Zacher is an attorney in Philadelphia…
A team of researchers from the fields of both public health and environmental engineering has released some findings from an 18 month long investigation into the outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease in Flint. The Flint Area Community Health and Environment Partnership conducted random water sampling of Genesee County households in the Fall of 2016. The team found legionella bacteria in 12% of the 200 tested households, which according to the researchers is what is considered to be a normal amount nationwide. The team found 18 different isolates of Legionella pneumophila. The most common serogroup found by the researchers, by far, was…
According to the World Health Organization, males are three times more likely to acquire Legionnaires’ Disease than women. (source) As of now, there is no vaccine for Legionnaires’ Disease. The most common form of treatment is typically antibiotics. 75% of reported Legionnaires’ Disease cases are aged 50 years and older. (source) Legionnaires’ Disease is most likely to occur in the summer months. This is because legionella bacteria thrives in warmer water. (source) While Legionnaires’ Disease is typically transmitted by aerosolized water droplets, there have been numerous outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease that have been caused by legionella bacteria found in potting…
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…
According to a CDC report based on 27 different outbreaks investigated by the CDC from 2000-2014, released last year, found that hotels and resorts are the most common source of Legionnaires’ Disease outbreaks in the United States. Hotels and resorts were 25 percentage points ahead of long term care facilities and other health care related facilities. Senior living facilities, workplace, and community-associated outbreaks were each found to be responsible for 7% of Legionnaires’ Disease outbreaks. Travel associated outbreaks (hotels and resorts) were found to be the most common source of outbreaks but were also found to have the lowest median fatality rate at…
According to data from the CDC, the number of deaths caused by Legionnaires’ Disease has just about tripled over the past two decades. In 2002 there was 63 deaths directly attributed to Legionnaires’ Disease. The CDC reported 170 deaths caused by Legionnaires’ Disease in 2015, the most recent year that was analyzed. When Legionnaires’ Disease is taken into account as a contributing factor to death, the number of deaths in 2015 increases to 217. Legionnaires’ Disease is the underlying cause of death in 78.3% of fatalities associated with the disease. The data also shows that the mortality rate for Legionnaires’ Disease…
On Wednesday, six plaintiffs, represented by Mr. Zacher, have been awarded a total of $1,100,000.00 as a result of acquiring Legionnaires’ Disease at Integrated Health Campus, an Allentown medical office complex. More info regarding the case can be found here and here.