Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Warns Against Its Tap Water After Patient Contracts Legionnaire’s Disease

Patients and staff at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center are being told to avoid the tap water after one patient tested positive for Legionnaire’s disease.

Hospital representatives said the test results were preliminary and that no other patients have tested positive.

Legionnaire’s is a type of pneumonia contracted when people breathe in water vapor or mist that’s been contaminated with the disease.

Patients have been told not to shower or use the sinks or water fountains.

Until the situation is resolved, the hospital is providing bottled water for drinking and pre-moistened towelettes for bathing.

“An administrative gentleman came around and put notes on bathroom doors and just ensuring that we remember not to use the sink,” said a patient.

“I love this hospital, but I’m very concerned about my mother. My mother has one kidney, and the one kidney she has left has cancer on it,” said one woman.

Hospital representatives said tests conducted on other patients and the water supply came back negative for Legionnaires.

Original article at: NY1 News

Spokane hospital fighting Legionnaires Disease

SPOKANE, Wash. —

Patients at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane are being given bottled water to drink while the hospital cleans its water system to remove the bacteria that causes Legionnaires Disease.

Three patients have come down with the disease since January and one has died, although the hospital says the bacteria likely weren’t the cause of the death.

Sacred Heart called in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Testing confirmed Wednesday that Legionella is in the water supply.

The hospital has been cleaning its water tanks and is adding extra chlorine.

Information from: KXLY-TV, http://www.kxly.com