Health Department Investigating Case of Legionnaires’ Disease at Westernport Apartment Complex

WESTERNPORT — The Allegany County Health Department is investigating one confirmed case of Legionnaires’ disease in a resident of Grandview Apartments, a senior apartment community in Westernport.

Personal details about the case, including the individual’s name, age and gender, will not be released.

Legionnaires’ disease is caused by a type of bacteria called Legionella, which can be found in many different water sources — manmade and natural. People most at risk of getting the disease are the elderly, smokers and those with lung or kidney disease, diabetes, cancer or weakened immune systems because of diseases or medications.

Legionellosis is acquired by inhaling aerosols of water containing the Legionella bacteria. The disease is not passed from person to person. Legionellosis can be treated by commonly used antibiotics.

Signs of the disease are similar to pneumonia and can include a high fever, chills, chest pain and cough. Some people may also suffer from muscle aches and headaches. Symptoms appear two to 14 days after coming in contact with the bacteria.

Since Jan. 1, 139 cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been reported in Maryland; three of these were in Allegany County. A case also was confirmed a year ago at Moran Manor in Westernport. Each year, between 8,000 and 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease in the United States.

The Allegany County Housing Authority and the health department are working together to assess the risk associated with the building. In the meantime, recommendations to apartment residents include:

  • Reducing contact with water sprays/mists.
  • Taking tub baths rather than showers.
  • Using bottled water or water that has been boiled for five minutes at a rolling boil for drinking, cooking and other oral consumption, including tooth-brushing.

It is very important to always use sterile or distilled water in respiratory equipment such as oxygen dispensers and nebulizers.

Residents or recent visitors to the apartment building who are currently ill with fever, cough and/or shortness of breath should seek attention by a health-care provider. Possible cases should be reported to the health department at 301-759-5093.

Individuals who aren’t ill do not need testing for Legionella infection.

For more information, go to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene website at http://ideha.dhmh. maryland.gov or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc. gov/legionella.

Original article at: times-news.com

Hotel with Legionnaires’ Cases Plans Tests Prior to Reopening

OCEAN CITY — The hotel where several people contracted Legionnaires’ Disease will have consulted with a water systems expert and will have regular water testing done by the health department when it reopens in the spring.

The Plim Plaza Hotel, which closed for the season a few days early this fall after some of its guests developed Legionnaires’ Disease, has been required by the Worcester County Health Department to consult with a water expert to develop a plan for treating its water before it reopens in April 2012.

“We’ll be monitoring the effectiveness of the plan,” said Debra Stevens, nursing program manager at the Worcester County Health Department. “This is an ongoing investigation.”

When it opens in the spring, the oceanfront hotel will also have its water tested regularly for about six months by the health department.

Plim Plaza spokesperson Betsy FauntLeRoy said the hotel had been working closely with the health department since the bacteria was discovered in its water pipes and had hired a water expert immediately.

“We had remediation done,” she said. “All the bacteria has been cleared from the building, everything is good to go.”

She said an exact source of the bacteria had not been determined. “The source is unclear, but we did everything in our power to clean out every pipe and drain,” she said.

The Plim Plaza Hotel closed after three former guests developed Legionnaires’ Disease after staying there in September. Once it closed, four more guests contracted the disease, which can show up anywhere between two and 14 days after exposure to the Legionella bacteria. One of the seven sickened, an elderly out-of-state hotel guest, died.

Legionnaires’ Disease, a form of pneumonia, has symptoms similar to the flu including a high fever, cough and shortness of breath. People develop the illness after exposure to the Legionella bacteria, which is common in the environment, according to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Original article at: delmarvanow.com

CHP Investigates a Legionnaires’ Disease Case

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (December 21) investigating a case of Legionnaires’ Disease involving a 67-year-old man.

The patient, with underlying illnesses, presented with fever, cough, shortness of breath and malaise since December 16. He was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital on December 18 and was transferred to Intensive Care Unit the next day. He is in stable condition now.

Test on his nasopharyngeal aspirate specimen revealed that the patient was infected with Legionella bacteria.

He had travelled to the Mainland between December 10 and 11. His close contacts were asymptomatic. Investigation is in progress.

Information on Legionnaires’ Disease and advice on prevention can be found at the CHP’s website, www.chp.gov.hk.

Original article at: flutrackers.com

Ocean City Hotel Works to Reopen after Legionnaires’ Disease Cases

OCEAN CITY — The hotel where health officials say several people contracted Legionnaires’ disease will consult with a water systems expert and have regular water testing done by the Worcester Health Department when it reopens in the spring.

The Plim Plaza Hotel, which closed for the season a few days early this fall after some of its guests developed Legionnaires’ disease, has been required by the health department to consult with a water expert to develop a plan for treating its water before it reopens in April 2012.

“We’ll be monitoring the effectiveness of the plan,” said Debra Stevens, nursing program manager at the Worcester County Health Department. “This is an ongoing investigation.”

When it opens in the spring, the oceanfront hotel will have its water tested regularly for about six months.

Plim Plaza spokeswoman Betsy FauntLeRoy said the hotel has worked closely with the health department since the bacteria was discovered in its water pipes and hired a water expert.

“We had remediation done,” she said. “All the bacteria has been cleared from the building; everything is good to go.”

She said an exact source of the bacteria had not been determined.

“The source is unclear, but we did everything in our power to clean out every pipe and drain,” she said.

The Plim Plaza Hotel closed after three guests developed Legionnaires’ disease in September. Once it closed, four more guests contracted the disease, which can show up between two and 14 days after exposure to the Legionella bacteria. One of the seven sickened, an elderly out-of-state hotel guest, died.

Legionnaires’ disease, a form of pneumonia, has symptoms similar to the flu including a high fever, cough and shortness of breath. People develop the illness after exposure to the Legionella bacteria, which is common in the environment, according to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. It is spread by the release of small droplets of contaminated water into the air from sources including air conditioning cooling towers, showers and humidifiers. People get sick when they inhale infected droplets; the disease is not spread by person-to-person contact.

Original article at: delmarvanow.com