To date, one person has died and several others have been sickened in an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease linked to Glenwood Nursing Home in Florence, Alabama. Legionnaires’ is a form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water mist containing Legionella bacteria.
All confirmed and suspected cases have been either residents or visitors to the nursing home. The one person who has died in the outbreak was a woman who visited the facility with two family members. She later developed respiratory symptoms and was hospitalized. Tests confirmed Legionnaires disease (Legionella pneumonia). The other family members were also sickened.
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has been investigating the outbreak, testing environmental samples from the nursing home and nearby buildings. So far, Legionella bacteria have been found in two cooling towers, one at Regency Square Mall and one at Southwire, a manufacturer of residential, commercial, industrial utility electrical wire and cable. The ADPH is testing to see if there is a linkage between these cooling towers and the Glenwood Nursing Home Legionella pneumonia outbreak.
The cooling towers at Regency Square Mall and Southwire have been turned off and will be cleaned.
The ADPH has confirmed 14 cases and identified 10 suspected cases. Test results on the suspected cases have not been returned from the laboratory.
