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…
On Monday, May 8th Samaritan Medical Center, in Watertown, NY, reported that it had found legionella bacteria in the hospital’s water system while conducting quarterly water quality tests. The spokesperson for Samaritan Medical Center stated that the levels of legionella bacteria were low and that the remediation of the hospital’s water system would be conducted by the next day. As of now there have been no cases of Legionnaires’ Disease reported by the Jefferson County Department of Health or Samaritan Medical Center. More information about the discovery of legionella bacteria can be found here. Jules Zacher is an attorney in Philadelphia…