Legionnaires' Disease Archives

November 5, 2021 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Confirmed Case of Legionnaires’ Disease at Missouri Mental Health Facility

A patient at Southeast Missouri Mental Health Center has tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease. The 66-year-old patient was transported to a hospital and is in stable condition. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services began extensive testing of the water systems at the Farmington, Missouri, facility. The Department is also assisting the facility in implementing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. After a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at a veterans home in the neighboring state of Illinois, health department officials in Missouri tightened reporting requirements for Legionnaires’ disease in the state. Facilities must report evidence of…

October 29, 2021 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak in Washington County, Oregon

Public health officials in Washington County, Oregon, are investigating a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases that has left four people hospitalized. In total, there are six confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the county. Washington County has seen fourteen cases so far this year, and public health officials are speculating that the county may exceed its record number of nineteen cases in 2019. The Washington County Public Health Department, along with the Oregon Health Authority and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are collecting samples and performing testing of potential sources of the outbreak. Public health officials are encouraging residents…

September 8, 2021 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Two Individuals are Infected With Legionnaires Disease After A Cruise Onboard The Carnival Horizon

Cruise ship passengers have more to worry about than COVID-19 on cruise ships. Carnival Cruise lines recently sent a letter that informed their guests that two cases of Legionnaires disease occurred among passengers. The two cases occurred in July and August 2021. Carnival Cruise Line is working with the CDC to investigate this potential outbreak. The ship had not been used since March of last year. Stagnant water increases the risk of Legionella transmission as it creates favorable conditions for Legionella growth. The cruise line has begun substantial mitigation measures on board the ship in question. This includes testing all…

September 7, 2021 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak That Occurred In Moncton, Canada, In 2019 Has Sparked Several Lawsuits

A Legionnaires disease outbreak that occurred in Moncton, Canada, in 2019 has sparked several lawsuits. Twelve of the Sixteen individuals that were known to be infected are suing Organigram, a Moncton based cannabis grower. They allege that Organigram failed to properly test and maintain its cooling towers, which resulted in this outbreak. In 2019, this outbreak hospitalized 15 of the 16 individuals that were infected with Legionnaires’ disease. All the plaintiffs either lived, worked near, or travelled by Organigram before becoming symptomatic. The cases make three main accusations. They allege that Organigram was negligent in maintaining the cooling towers, that…

September 6, 2021 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Several Recent Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreaks Spark Concern Among Public Health Officials

As recently reported on our blog, there is an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Harlem, NY. Additionally, dozens are sick after they were exposed this month at Duke University’s fantasy basketball camp. All over the country, cases of Legionnaires’ disease appear to be on the rise. Michigan noted an alarming statistic in July of an increase of 569% from July 2020. This is a huge spike in reported Legionnaires’ disease cases, with over 100 cases being reported in Michigan in the first half of July alone. [1] Many individuals are returning to buildings like schools and offices that have been…

August 26, 2021 zacherlaw 0 Comments

The New York City Health Department Is Investigating An Outbreak Of Legionnaires’ Disease In Central Harlem

The New York City Health Department is investigating a cluster of Legionnaires disease in Central Harlem. Since August 9, 2021, 9 individuals have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. All of the sick individuals are currently hospitalized. The Health Commissioner, Dr. Dave Chokshi, urges any individual that resides in the affected area to visit their doctor if they begin experiencing any flu-like symptoms. Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, chills, shortness of breath, loss of appetite and coughing. The cases thus far come from the zip codes 10037 and 10039. The Health Department is investigating all of the cooling…

August 25, 2021 zacherlaw 0 Comments

84 Individuals Are Sick After Being Exposed to Legionella At Duke University’s Basketball Fantasy Camp

84 Attendees of Duke University’s “The K Academy” are reporting symptoms such as fever, muscle fatigue, nausea, and respiratory distress after being exposed to Legionella on Duke’s campus. The individuals were attending a weeklong basketball fantasy camp from August 11th through August 15th. At this camp the attendees met and were coached by the famous Mike Krzyzewski. The camp was open to adults over the age of 35. The University is working with federal, state, and local public health officials to identify the source of exposure. It is believed they were exposed in the training room during the camp activities.…

August 24, 2021 zacherlaw 0 Comments

The CDC Released Recommended Best Practices for the Disinfection of Hot Tubs that Contain Legionella

The CDC recently published recommendations for the best practices of disinfecting a hot tub that contains Legionella. It is vitally important that hot tubs are properly disinfected when Legionella is found. Hot tubs are a well-documented source of Legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease. As the water heats up, some of the water particles are aerosolized. These are then inhaled by those in and around the hot tub. If these particles contain Legionella, there is a chance that the individual who inhaled it could get very sick. The first step in the disinfection process is to close the hot tub immediately.…

August 23, 2021 zacherlaw 0 Comments

CDC States 100% Of Deaths Associated with Waterborne Illness in Recreational Water Are Caused by Legionnaires’ Disease

Outbreaks of waterborne illness, like Legionnaires’ disease, have been on the rise over the last several years. An outbreak associated with recreational water is defined as the occurrence of similar illness in two or more persons whose illness are epidemiologically linked by location and time of exposure to persons using recreational water. The CDC recently published in their Morbidity and Morality Weekly Report (MMWR) a report on Outbreaks Associated with Treated Recreational Water in the United States from 2015 through 2019. The report covers important statistics about waterborne illness outbreaks occurrences and recommend implementing new Legionella control guidelines. From 2015-2019,…

July 14, 2021 zacherlaw 0 Comments

An Outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease in Minnesota Linked to an Alberta Lee Hotel

An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at an Alberta Lee hotel has hospitalized two people. Investigators from the Minnesota Health Department have confirmed that early evidence suggests the outbreak originated at the hotel spa. Both infected individuals spent time in the hot tub located in the spa before becoming sick. It is believed that more people are experiencing symptoms consistent with Legionnaire’s disease. The health department is urging anyone who visited the hotel between June 22 and June 29 to watch for symptoms. The urge any individual that is experiencing any symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, chills, shortness…