Legionella Archives

May 31, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Sixth Confirmed Case of Legionnaires’ Disease in Southwest Sydney

Following the diagnosis of Legionnaires’ disease in four local men in Southwest Sydney, a fifth and sixth case have been identified. So far, two women and four men between the ages of 40 and 70 have been diagnosed. They all visited locations between Elizabeth St, Clarence St, Park St, and Martin Place in the 10 days before experiencing symptoms. Thus far, all six cases have been treated in a hospital and one person has been discharged. The New South Wales Ministry of Health is continuing to advise people who have been in the Sydney CBD area in the past…

May 29, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Department of Health Links Fifth Case of Legionnaires’ Disease to Waikiki Hotel

Following three confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease from guests staying at the Hilton Grand Vacations in Waikiki in June 2021 and March 2022 and an additional fourth confirmed case in April 2022, the Hawai’i Department of Health has now reported a fifth confirmed case. Officials say the person visited the hotel on April 25 and was diagnosed on May 23. The investigation is ongoing. To read more about the Department of Health Links Fifth Case of Legionnaires’ disease to Waikiki Hotel, click here. To read our firm’s white paper on…

May 29, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Nineteen Confirmed Cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Bronx Highbridge Section

The New York City Department of Health has now reported 19 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease linked to an outbreak in the Bronx. The first person was diagnosed on May 3. One person has died and a further 8 people are hospitalized. The Health Department has sampled the cooling towers in the area. Four cooling towers tested positive for the presence of Legionella pneumophila, a type of bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease, and were immediately ordered to disinfect. Cases of Legionnaires’ disease are on the rise in the U.S.,…

May 24, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Riverside County Public Health Investigating Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak

Following a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases in Palm Springs, the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health recently announced it was opening an investigation. The outbreak includes at least 20 cases, 14 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths that occurred between last fall and early this year. “Legionella can be spread to humans if they inhale contaminated water droplets or mist, causing some vulnerable individuals to come down with Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. He recommended that routine environmental sampling for Legionella is also an effective way to validate the efficacy…

May 23, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

NYC Health Department Investigating Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak in Highbridge section

Following the diagnosis of ten confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the Highbridge section of the Bronx with the possibility of additional cases pending test results, the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene launched an investigation Saturday into the possible cluster of the airborne disease. According to city health officials the first case was confirmed on May 9, 2022. The health department is “sampling and testing water from all cooling tower systems” in the cluster area. However, they do not currently believe the outbreak is a result of plumbing systems in the buildings within the associated Zip…

May 19, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Three Confirmed Cases of Legionnaires’ Disease in Parsippany Hotel

Following the diagnosis of Legionnaires’ Disease in three guests who stayed at the Hilton/Hampton Inn Parsippany Hotel last year, the New Jersey Department of Health in coordination with the Parsippany-Troy Hills Health and Human Services Department has now opened an investigation. The guests visited the hotel, located at 1 Hilton Ct. between July 2021 and October 2021. The individuals range in age from 52 to 77 and have since recovered. After the second case was identified in February 2022, the Department in coordination with the Parsippany-Troy Hills Health and Human Services Department began an outbreak investigation that instructed…

May 17, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

DOH Continues Investigation of Hawai’i Hotel after Fourth Confirmed Case

Following two confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease from guests staying at the Hilton Grand Vacations in Waikiki in June 2021 and another confirmed case on March 6 or 7, 2022, the Hawai’i Department of Health has now confirmed an additional fourth case. The fourth case was diagnosed on April 26. The individual, a non-Hawai’i resident, stayed at the Grand Islander from April 16-18, 2022. “Legionnaires’ disease can potentially have severe consequences, and we encourage anyone who developed symptoms following a stay at the Grand Islander to contact a physician and DOH,” said Hawai’i State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble. The investigation…

May 17, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Four cases of Legionnaires’ Disease in Southwest Sydney

Following the diagnosis of Legionnaires’ disease in four local men, South Western Sydney Local Health District has issued a reminder to Macarthur residents to ensure their cooling towers are being properly maintained. All four men are in their 60s and 70s and contracted the disease in the past five weeks, in Camden and Narellan. All four men are currently recovering. The Health District’s Public Health Unit, in collaboration with Camden Council is investigating the case. However, the specific source of the infections has yet to be identified. Director of Public Health Dr. Naru Pal said it was vital that cooling…

May 16, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Father of Five Left in Coma after Benidorm Trip

David Marshall, a retired union official, aged 79, was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease after visiting Benidorm, Spain. The symptoms started during his second week of a two-week stay at the four-star Hotel Presidente in Benidorm. After arriving back in the UK on August 3, David was rushed to Royal Blackburn Hospital where he was placed in a coma, and in intensive care for a month. He suffered organ failure that caused breathlessness and severe weight loss. A similar outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease occurred in 1973 when four tourists died at the Hotel Rio Park. However, at the time it was…

April 19, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Upcoming Study to Assess the Available Detection Methods for Legionella

In December 2020, the European Union (EU) revised the Drinking Water Directive by approving a new set of rules that extended Legionella monitoring to every potable water system in the EU. The new rules entered force on January 12, 2021, with new member states having two years to transpose them into national legislation. Member states are left free to determine their approach to testing, as they can choose the methods they find most appropriate for the purposes of sampling Legionella. In response to this, a new study has been initiated in Italy comparing the culture methods of testing for Legionella…