The La Quinta Inn & Suites in Memphis, Tennessee has been closed since September 22, 2016, following 6 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in people that stayed there. Prior to close, the hotel distributed a letter by the Shelby County Health Department that urged anyone who experienced symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches, or headaches after staying there to seek medical attention. However, the hotel now has reason to believe that around 6,000 people could have been exposed to the Legionella bacteria responsible for the outbreak between July 1, 2016 and September 22, 2016. They are now…
Numbers continue to grow in the ongoing investigation in Hopkins, MN, and officials still are unsure what the source of the Legionella responsible for this outbreak might be. Currently, the total confirmed cases found associated with the Hopkins area adds up to 20, with one case resulting in the victim’s death. The victims of the disease were found to live, work, or have visited the Hopkins, Minnesota area prior to September 9, 2016. Although some measures to eradicate the possible source of the outbreak have already been taken- such as disinfecting cooling towers atop some local businesses and shutting down…
The La Quinta Inn & Suites located by the Memphis International Airport was closed Thursday morning, thanks to Shelby County health officials. The hotel is being investigated by the Tennessee Department of Health and the federal Centers for Disease Control after five people who reported staying there this past August contracted Legionnaires’ disease. Prior to its close, the hotel distributed a letter by the Shelby County Health Department to its guests that urged anyone who experienced symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease within a two week period from being at the hotel to seek medical attention. However, many guests feel that they…
The Minnesota Department of Health (“MDH”) stated on Friday, September 16, that there are now nine confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the Hopkins area, with patients ranging in age from their 20’s to their 90’s. Officials have indicated that they are still unaware of the source of the Legionella bacteria responsible for the outbreak, and believe it is possible that they might never know. The MDH expects to see more cases of Legionnaires’ popping up within the Hopkins area as a result of the outbreak. Legionnaires’ disease is often misdiagnosed as pneumonia or other respiratory diseases. The MDH has…
Two individuals were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease at the Ussery Roan Veterans’ Home at the end of August this year. Officials confirmed that one patient is being treated at the nursing home, while the other is being treated at Amarillo VA Hospital. Both patients appear to be improving and are expected to recover at this time. Brittany Eck is the Press Secretary for the Texas General Land Office, or the agency that oversees the operation of eight VA nursing homes in Texas. Eck stated that after notification of the diagnoses, the agency quickly began working with the Amarillo Public Health Department and…
The Minnesota Department of Health has confirmed six cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the city of Hopkins. The source of the bacteria remains unknown. All six of the patients are over 50 years old. As of Friday, three of the patients remained hospitalized; two had recovered, and the status of the most recent case remained unknown. The MDH is conducting tests and investigations into possible connections between the cases. Four of the patients live in Hopkins, but no further links have been found. Health officials are looking into supermarkets, ornamental fountains, and local buildings with cooling towers as potential sources.…
The Georgia Department of Public Health began an investigation of Lockheed Martin’s campus in Marietta, Georgia after four employees within a 12-month period were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. Nancy Nydam, spokesperson for the state health department, stated that said investigation revealed the presence of Legionella at certain locations of the campus. In July of this year, Lockheed Martin circulated an internal memo stating that initial testing by an expert gave no indication that the employees contracted Legionnaires’ disease at the Marietta campus. However, in light of the new findings, Lockheed distributed a supplemental memo informing employees that further testing found Legionella at the facility. Rob Fuller, Lockheed’s communication senior…
Two individuals at the Rangel Houses in Harlem have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. Regarding these two cases, the NYC Department of Health released a statement indicating that they are working with the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) to launch an investigation and test the water supply in one of the buildings within the public housing complex. The results of these tests will not be determined for a few weeks, and until then it is unclear whether or not the suspected building is the source of the Legionella bacteria that is responsible for these two cases. In an effort to…
A fourth resident of the Illinois Veterans’ Home in Quincy, Illinois was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. Another case of Legionnaires’ disease was also recently confirmed in the Quincy area, but this case does not appear to be associated with the Veterans’ Home in any way. A spokesman with the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, Dave MacDonna, indicated that the source of the Legionella bacteria that is responsible for this fourth case associated with the facility has not yet been determined. The gentleman’s room, where he eats, where he relaxes, and the building where he lives have all been eliminated as possible sources of exposure to the bacteria. In light of four positive…
The NYC Department of Health has announced a comprehensive plan to reduce the risk of Legionnaires’ disease in New York City. Following the 2015 outbreaks in the South Bronx , Mayor de Blasio passed some of the nation’s toughest regulations on cooling towers. The city is now investing more than $7 million to enforce these regulations. Local Law 77, which focuses on preventative maintenance of the city’s 5,544 cooling towers, took effect on May 9, 2016. This law requires that cooling towers be registered with the city and that all cooling towers have plans in place to reduce outbreaks of…