The estimated 350 residents of Westminster Towers retirement community have been warned to take necessary precautions after a former resident was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia, and it is not yet clear how the former resident contracted the disease. The community’s management sent a letter to residents last Wednesday that provided information about Legionnaires’ disease, including symptoms and where to seek treatment. The Florida Department of Health in Orange County took water samples from the community last Thursday, and planned to hyperchlorinate the water later that day. The test results are expected to take…
Two LA Fitness centers were under investigation for Legionella bacteria after a total of four club members were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. The fitness center located at 12700 South Orange Blossom Trail recently tested positive for Legionella bacteria. Now, the fitness center at 4792 Kirkman Road has also tested positive for Legionella bacteria. Both gyms were advised by the health department to hyperchlorinate the water and put filters on shower heads located within their facilities. The facilities are awaiting the follow-up test results to see if these measures have eliminated the risk of Legionella transmission. LA Fitness has reportedly hired…
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…
Earlier this month, a woman in her 90s living in the Upper East Side died after becoming ill with Legionnaires’ disease. Six others in the same area were diagnosed with the disease around the same time, and the only commonality between these individuals is the area in which they live. The source of the outbreak has not yet been identified. Health officials have been looking toward local cooling towers on buildings as the potential source of the outbreak, testing a total of 116 cooling towers in the Lenox Hill area. It is possible one of these local cooling towers contaminated…
Four cases of Legionnaires’ disease among members of two different LA fitness clubs in Orange County, Florida has sparked the investigation of the gyms as the possible source of the bacteria. The spas and showers of both the facility on Kirkman Road in Orange County and the Orange Blossom Trail location in Hunter’s Creek were shut down pending the investigation, and notices were issued to club members last week about the signs and symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease. Health officials upon inspection found conditions that would be favorable for the growth of Legionella at the fitness centers. Reportedly, the showers and spas were…
Two people were hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease after visiting the Foothill Ranch community pool and spa located at 27021 Burbank in Foothill Ranch, California. While it was originally unclear whether or not the community pool and spa was the cause of these illnesses, testing performed by the Orange County Health Care Agency revealed that three samples from the spa tested positive for Legionella bacteria. Legionella bacteria can be found in warm hot tub water when it is not properly cleaned or disinfected. When this water becomes aerosolized and inhaled through the lungs, a person may contract Legionnaires disease, a severe type of…
Delta Cooling Towers, a New Jersey-based manufacturer of cooling towers, has unveiled a product that they hope will prevent the spread of Legionella bacteria. The cooling towers are made of an anti-microbial resin that has been treated with additives to prevent the growth of microorganisms. The plastic towers are also less affected by water treatments than metal towers–corrosive treatments in metal towers can release nutrients that feed Legionella bacteria. John Flaherty, president of Delta Cooling Towers, mentioned in a statement that this innovation is only one part of the process of safe water management. Competent and consistent maintenance of cooling towers is…
The Ohio Department of Health, in collaboration with the Lake County General Health district, has confirmed the cooling tower of a local business as the source of an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease. The outbreak, which began in July, seems to have had several sources, and the cooling tower has been linked to at least three of the ten cases. Health officials announced that an environmental assessment at Consolidated Precision Products, a business in Eastlake, revealed the presence of Legionella bacteria on November 16, 2016. At least three cases of Legionnaires’ disease were reported in September among individuals who had spent time in the…
On September 1, 2016, State Correctional Institution (“SCI”) – Pittsburgh announced the presence of Legionella within its facility. However, the facility tested positive for Legionella as early as May of this year. SCI-Pittburgh’s medical director, Joseph Mollura (60) died of complications resulting from Legionella pneumonia on August 8, 2016. However, a May 12, 2016 report regarding testing performed at the prison on May 4, 2016 revealed that the cooling tower known as “No. 1,” which served the prison’s medical department, was found positive for Legionella. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends that any cooling tower that has 100 cfu/ml or more of bacteria…
A resident of a county-run nursing home in Pennsylvania was diagnosed on October 24 with Legionnaires’ disease, and officials believe she contracted it from her residence. McKeesport Regional Care Center, where the woman lives, has taken measures to guard against the possibility of further cases. The woman was hospitalized and diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease at UPMC McKeesport. After being informed of the case, management at McKeesport RCC distributed bottled water and put the water system at the nursing home out of commission. They also sent a letter informing patients and their families about the diagnosis. Management also sampled water from…