Legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' Disease, has been discovered in the water system at the Minneapolis Veterans Medical Center. No illnesses have been reported. Officials are working to eliminate the pathogen which was discovered during routine testing on Nov. 19. The system is being flushed and filters have been installed on taps and shower heads. Legionnaires’ Disease, which does not spread from person-to person, causes pneumonia-like symptoms including fever, cough, fatigue, confusion, aches and lung inflammation. It develops when water mist contaminated with Legionella bacteria is inhaled. The source of contaminated water mist can be showers, faucets, whirlpools, swimming pools, fountains or cooling towers in air conditioning systems. Between 8,000 and 18,000 … [Read more...]
Legionnaires’ Disease Threat Closed 3 Chicago Schools
Three Chicago area schools were closed last week because their water systems had dangerous levels of Legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires Disease. Officials from School District U-46 closed Eastview Middle School, Larkin High School and the Educational Services Center, housing Gifford Street middle and high schools and the Central Schools Program, on Thursday and Friday while cooling towers were cleaned and sanitized. The closures affected an estimated 3,000 of the district's 40,000 students and about 300 employees. No illnesses have been reported. Legionnaires’ Disease, which does not spread from person-to person, causes pneumonia-like symptoms including fever, cough, fatigue, confusion, aches and lung inflammation. It develops when water mist contaminated with … [Read more...]
NYC Used Whole Genome Sequencing to Solve Legionnaires Outbreak
New York City health officials used whole genome sequencing (WGS) and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to solve the Legionnaires Disease outbreak linked to the Opera House Hotel in the South Bronx. The outbreak, which sickened 128 people in the South Bronx killing 12 of them, was the city's largest-ever. Legionnaires’ Disease develops when water mist contaminated with Legionella bacteria is inhaled. It does not spread from person-to person. Symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, confusion, aches and lung inflammation. The source of contaminated water mist can be showers, faucets, whirlpools, swimming pools, fountains or cooling towers in air conditioning systems. City and state health officials worked together with investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and … [Read more...]
Opera House Hotel Identified as Source of NYC Legionnaires Outbreak
A cooling tower at the Opera House Hotel in the South Bronx was the source of a Legionnaires Disease outbreak that sickened 128 people, killing 12 of them, New York City health officials have determined. The tower was disinfected August 1, and the outbreak is now over, according to the health department. Legionnaires’ Disease causes pneumonia-like symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, confusion, aches and lung inflammation. Symptoms usually appear two to 14 days after exposure to contaminated water mist from showers, faucets, whirlpools, swimming pools, fountains or cooling towers in air conditioning systems. It cannot be transmitted from person to person. In a statement, the hotel called the city's findings disappointing, as their system is only 2 years old, "has the most up-to-date … [Read more...]
Legionnaires Disease the Source of Most Waterborne Outbreaks
Legionnaires’ Disease was the source of more than 80 percent of waterborne outbreaks between 2011 and 2012, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During that time period, 280 people from 11 states were sickened in 18 outbreaks. reported. Sixty seven people were hospitalized, 10 people died. Fifteen of the 18 outbreaks reported during that time were associated with Legionnaires' Disease, which is transmitted by inhaling contaminated water mist These outbreaks, which occurred in hotels, motels, hospitals and health care facilities, sickened 254 people, killing 10 of them. Specific sources included contaminated ornamental fountains, a cooling tower and a storage tank. Legionnaires’ Disease causes pneumonia-like symptoms such as fever, cough, … [Read more...]
NYC’s Largest-Ever Legionnaires’ Outbreak Sickens 124
At least 124 people have been sickened in New York City's worst-ever Legionnaires' Disease outbreak. Twelve people have died. The illness is not spread person-to-person. It is spread by inhaling mist from contaminated water sources and from drinking improperly treated water. In this outbreak, the cases, all clustered in the South Bronx, have been linked to contaminated cooling towers. The outbreak spurred the City Council on Thursday to unanimously pass legislation requiring towers to be registered with the city and inspected quarterly. nnaires’ Disease include fever, muscle aches, cough, fatigue, loss of appetite, confusion, and headache. Residents of the South Bronx who have been sick with these symptoms should see a doctor. … [Read more...]
New York Legionnaires Outbreak: 100 Sick, 10 Dead
A Legionnaires' Disease outbreak in New York has sickened 100 people, killing ten of them. Although most of the case are concentrated in the South Bronx, the city has ordered owners and operators of cooling towers throughout the city to disinfect them if they haven't done so within the last 30 days. Legionnaires’ Disease is transmitted when water contaminated with legionella bacteria mist is inhaled. This water mist can come from showers, faucets, whirlpools, swimming pools, fountains or cooling towers in air conditioning systems. It cannot be transmitted from person to person. "The order instructs the owners or managers to test and disinfect their cooling tower within the next 14 days," Mayor Bill de Blasio, told CBS NewYork. "Failure to comply with the commissioner's order is a … [Read more...]
Four Dead in New York Legionnaires Outbreak
Four people have died and sixty one others are sick in Legionnaires Disease outbreak in New York City. Fifty five people remain hospitalized. Legionnaires’ Disease causes pneumonia-like symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, confusion, aches and lung inflammation. Symptoms usually appear two to 14 days after exposure. People contract Legionnaires’ Disease by inhaling contaminated water mist from showers, faucets, whirlpools, swimming pools, fountains or cooling towers in air conditioning systems. It cannot be transmitted from person to person. Most of the cases are in the South Bronx and have been reported since mid-July. Water sources at a hospital, hotel and three other buildings associated with the illnesses tested positive for legionella, the bacteria that cause Legionnaires … [Read more...]
Legionnaires’ Outbreak at Altamonte Springs Springhill Suites by Marriott
A Legionnaires' Disease outbreak at the Springhill Suites by Marriott in Altamonte Springs, Florida has sickened at least three people and potentially exposed thousands of others. The Seminole County Health Department is contacting every guest who has stayed at the hotel since since September 2014 to alert them to the dangers of the disease which can be fatal for those with weakened immune systems. Legionnaires' Disease causes pneumonia-like symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, confusion, aches and lung inflammation. Symptoms usually appear two to 14 hours after exposure. Anyone who stayed at the hotel and has these symptoms should see a doctor right away and mention exposure to Legionella bacteria. The three guests who became ill are being treated. People contract … [Read more...]
Legionnaires’ Outbreak in Bronx Hits Residents of Co-Op City
An outbreak in the Bronx of Legionnaires' disease has been associated with Co-Op City, one of the largest cooperative housing developments in the world. The New York City Health Department announced last month that preliminary tests found that cooling towers at the complex were contaminated with Legionella bacteria. When Health Department representatives met with a large group of Co-Op City residents, there were complaints about the lack of communication over previous Legionnaires cases at the housing center, which is home to some 50,000 New Yorkers. While the Health Department has made no determination that the cooling towers are the cause of any reported case of Legionnaires' Disease, the department instructed Co-Op City cooling tower manager River Bay Corporation to take immediate … [Read more...]
