Positive findings of Legionella bacteria were found throughout the water system in the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The investigation came about after two guests contracted Legionnaires ’ disease following their stay at the Rio Hotel in March and April. Test results conducted by The Southern Nevada Health District following the second reported case of the disease showed the presence of the bacteria. The company is now taking action to remediate the problem and disinfect the water. Guests are being alerted and are being relocated while remediation is taking place. Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia…
Two weeks ago, a resident of the St. Paul’s community tested positive for presence of Legionella antigen. The community has since tested their facilities and are awaiting results to see if their community was the source of the bacteria. Community leaders have expressed in a statement released in the Record Argus that “At this time, we are taking an abundance of caution as we investigate.” The CEO of St. Paul’s, Chris Wright, advised that the efforts being taken include enlisting the assistance of consultants and discussing as a group about where any of the community’s risks for the bacteria may…
Dr. Joseph Mollura began working full time as the medical director at the SCI Pittsburgh about four years ago. However, Dr. Mollura died on August 8, 2016 after he developed Legionnaires’ disease. His family filed a lawsuit on May 4, 2017 in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, alleging that Dr. Mollura developed Legionnaires’ disease from working at SCI Pittsburgh. The family filed suit against the state Department of Corrections and Capital Technologies, the company that was hired to provide water services to the prison. The family claims wrongful death, suggesting that the prison first detected high levels of Legionella bacteria in…
Samaritan Medical Center had its water retested on May 15, 2017 after the legionella bacteria was in found in the hospital’s water systems. The hospital originally reported that it expected testing results to be returned by the following Friday; however, Spokeswoman Krista A. Kittle says that the testing will not be completing on the samples for at least another 10 days. For more information, click here
Two adults who used a community pool and spa in Foothill Ranch, California were hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease over the past two months. The pool and spa were closed on May 12, 2017, and Orange County Health Officials have reported that water testing results are pending to determine whether or not the community pool/spa was the source of the Legionella bacteria that caused these two individuals to become ill. The Orange County Health Care Agency said in a letter on May 12, 2017, that legionellosis occurs when people breathe in mist or vapor that has been contaminated with the Legionella…
Samples taken from the water system at Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, New York tested positive for low levels of Legionella on May 8, 2017. The Legionella was found in the Pratt building, which is the oldest part of the hospital. It is believed that the infrequently used faucets, old pipes, and recent construction in this part of the facility may be the cause of the contaminated water. Spokeswoman Krista A. Kittle has stated that the facility has since replaced the valves and begun to flush the water lines daily. Legionella bacteria can cause respiratory illnesses such as Legionellosis and…
If a company or organization in the UK fails to prevent the spread of legionella on their premises and someone dies of Legionnaires’ Disease as a result, the company could face a charge of corporate manslaughter. As of now, a town council and a discount home improvement warehouse have faced corporate manslaughter charges as a result of Legionnaires’ Disease outbreaks. Following an outbreak of the flu that affected around 120 people who had attended a party at the Playboy Mansion, tests on the mansion’s pool and hot tub showed positive results for legionella bacteria. Though the first officially recorded Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak…
A suburban Philadelphia high school has been shut down today after legionella bacteria was found in the school’s hot water system. The school was conducting routine testing of their water systems when a water sample from a spigot in the boiler room tested positive for legionella bacteria. This was the only area in the school that tested positive for legionella. The superintendent of the Kennett Consolidated School District, Barry W. Tomasetti, posted a bulletin to the school district’s website informing students and families of these findings. The school district stated that it is working closely with the Chester County Health Department and…
A man in his 50s has died from Legionnaires’ disease that he contracted while using a hot spring in Mihara, Hiroshima. He is thought to have visited the facility in early March and was hospitalized with pneumonia like symptoms including shortness of breath and fever shortly after. In addition to the deceased man, 39 people who have all visited the “Miharashi Onsen” hot spring have also been experiencing pneumonia-like symptoms. Of the 39 people, in ages ranging from 30-80, 37 have been hospitalized with two in serious condition. Legionella pneumophila has been detected in all of the people complaining of…
Pennsylvania appellate court has ruled that a former Nestle USA Inc. employee is entitled to workers compensation indemnity and medical benefits. Shawn Gallen was disabled due to his bout with Legionnaires’ disease, which he believes was caused by exposure to contaminated water while performing his job. Mr. Gallen was an employee of Glendale, California-based Nestle USA Inc. since 1994. He was based in the company’s Burlington, New Jersey, office, but performed most of his work in Pennsylvania doing maintenance work of beverage machines. In June 2013 he experienced flu-like symptoms. He fell into a coma at a hospital and…