March 30, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Proposed New Brunswick Cooling Tower Legislation

In response to a 2019 legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Moncton where fifteen people were hospitalized, the New Brunswick government has introduced legislation to reduce the risk of legionnaires’ disease in cooling towers. This bill was introduced by Health Minister Dorothy Shephard and would require a registry and associated maintenance and testing of cooling towers. The registry is meant to help quickly locate the towers for testing in the event of future outbreaks. Public Health officials have said that regular testing and maintenance can reduce the risk of bacteria; however, to this point there was nothing requiring such work in New…

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March 25, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Proposed California Safe Water Legislation

As a result of the lack of access to clean water in public schools and state agencies, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) has introduced Bill 1144, the Safe and Efficient Water Act. In recent years, school drinking water has been at unacceptable levels. Of the reporting school districts in California, 53% have reported contaminants in their drinking water.  Children are specifically at risk for experiencing long term health effects from contaminated drinking water. Common health issues include Legionnaires’ disease, liver and kidney problems, developmental and behavioral issues, and in some cases, cancer.  SB 1144 will require public schools and state…

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March 25, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Two Confirmed Cases of Legionnaires’ Disease at Hawai’i Resort

The Hawai’i Department of Health is investigating two confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Waikiki. Both Legionnaires’ disease cases were guests who stayed at The Grand Islander by Hilton Grand Vacations.  The source of the bacteria and extent of its spread are under investigation and the Grand Islander is cooperating with the investigation. The first case of Legionnaires’ disease was reported in June 2021 and the second was in March 2022. State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble encouraged guests who stayed at the hotel within the past two weeks who develop symptoms of the disease to seek medical attention and contact…

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March 20, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Ontario Provincial Government Considering Steps to Combat Legionella Growth

The provincial government in Ontario, Canada, is considering steps to thwart the growth of legionella bacteria. The province saw an increase in Legionnaires’ disease cases within the past year, with one outbreak being associated with ten confirmed cases and one potential death. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is encouraging the province to establish a registry of cooling towers and to require cooling tower sites to establish risk-management plans, a common source of legionella bacteria growth. The health board believes the registry will allow it to save time and resources identifying cooling tower sites, so it can more quickly respond…

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March 15, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Proposed Pennsylvania Legionnaires’ Disease Legislation

As a result of the substantial increase in Legionnaires’ disease cases in Pennsylvania, state Senators Wayne Fontana (D-42) and Joe Pittman (R-41), in a bipartisan effort, have introduced legislation SB 1125 to help curtail the spread of Legionella bacteria. Legionnaires’ disease is caused by the bacteria genus Legionella. Infection occurs when an infectious dose of the bacteria enters deeply into a susceptible person’s lungs, either by inhaling contaminated aerosolized water droplets, or by aspirating water into the lungs. A Senate Democrat hearing focusing on Legionella was held on May 5, 2021, where expert panelists testified that buildings shut down during the pandemic and…

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March 14, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Legionnaires’ Disease Cases Rise in the Coachella Valley

There have been 20 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the Coachella Valley between the fall of 2021 and early 2022. 14 of the 20 reported Legionnaires’ disease cases required hospitalization and two resulted in death. The source of the increase in cases remains unknown. County health officials are working with the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Geoffrey Leung, a Riverside County Public Health, warned residents in the affected areas to seek medical attention if they experience pneumonia-like symptoms. Despite this warning, Dr. Leung stated that the risk to the…

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March 14, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Legionnaires’ Disease Cases on the Rise in the U.S.

A new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been increasing since 2003. Incidence of the disease remained stable from 1992 to 2002, with an average of 1,221 reported cases each year. The average number of cases dramatically increased between 2003 to 2018 to 4,369 reported cases each year. The East North Central, Middle Atlantic, and New England regions were most affected by the increase in cases. Additionally, the highest incidence was in Black or African American persons. Increasing racial disparities, geographic focus, and seasonality were most associated with the…

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March 14, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Poverty Links COVID-19 and Legionnaires’ Disease

Clinicians and public health practitioners at Johns Hopkins University have identified poverty as a hidden link between COVID-19 and Legionnaires’ disease. After investigating the source of an uptick in Legionnaires’ disease cases, the researchers identified poor housing and socioeconomic disadvantage as common denominators between the patients.  Due to low incomes and fewer resources, these communities cannot afford to upgrade their aging water infrastructures and spend on expensive water testing and filtration systems. Not unlike those disproportionately affected by the pandemic, this poverty has led to those living within these communities to be the most susceptible to exposure to Legionella bacteria.  These researchers…

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March 14, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

COVID Shutdowns and Legionnaires’ Disease

Water stagnation as a result of COVID-19 related shutdowns may have led to an increase in Legionnaires’ disease cases in Baltimore. Clinicians and public health practitioners at Johns Hopkins University identified the link between the shutdowns and Legionnaires’ disease after Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center treated four cases of the disease in 2021. It had been several years since the Bayview Medical Center treated a Legionnaires’ disease case. Legionella bacteria can grow within water pipes, especially when stagnant water is present. As buildings became unoccupied and water usage decreased in Baltimore, the stagnant water became “potential hotbeds” for Legionella bacteria to grow. The…

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