Tag Archives: legionnaires disease symptoms

Case of Legionnaires’ Disease Reported at Olsen Middle School in Dania Beach

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A robo call message was sent to Olsen Middle School parents after a case of Legionnaires’ disease was reported at the Dania Beach school, a Broward County schools spokeswoman said.

“We are working with the Health Department and the school district staff regarding this issue and are taking every precaution to ensure that our school remains a safe learning environment for our students and staff,” the message said.

Spokeswoman Nadine Drew confirmed the person affected was not a student but gave no other information on the victim.

People get Legionnaires’ disease when they breathe in a mist or vapor that has been contaminated with the bacteria, which are not spread from one person to another, the message said.

Signs and symptoms of the disease include high fever, chills, coughing, muscle aches and headaches. A child who exhibits any of those symptoms should be taken immediately to a health care provider, the district told parents.

The district provided bottled water for students and staff as a safety precaution, Drew said in a statement.

Original article at: nbcmiami.com

Second Pa. care home hit by Legionnaires’ disease

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TURTLE CREEK, Pa. (AP) — Health officials now say at least 10 cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been discovered at a pair of care facilities in western Pennsylvania.

The Allegheny County Health Department said Wednesday at least two people have been sickened at the Hamilton Hills Personal Care Facility in Turtle Creek. That’s in addition to eight cases at the nearby LGAR Health & Rehabilitation Center.

No fatalities have been reported related to the outbreak but three people had to be hospitalized with pneumonia-like symptoms. Health officials say they’re treating the water supplies at both facilities, although the cause of the outbreak remains unknown.

The health department said previously the bacteria can sometimes occur when facilities install systems that prevent hot water from scalding people.

Original article at: FortWayne.com

Overview of the Dangers of Legionnaire’s Disease

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A recent outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease at an Orlando hotel serves to remind us about this dangerous disease:

“The Orange County Health Department says two laboratory-confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease are linked to the Quality Inn near Universal Studios. The hotel is in the International Drive tourist corridor, popular with tourists visiting nearby theme parks.

Officials believe the outbreak may have started in the hotel’s hot tub, which may not have been properly chlorinated.

At least two people were hospitalized as a result of the outbreak, Action News has learned, however no further information about their condition was available. They remain in a Pinellas County hospital. Pinellas County officials first alerted Orange County officials to the potential problem. The patients had stayed at the hotel within the last two weeks.”

According to the Mayo Clinic website:

“Legionnaires’ disease usually develops two to 14 days after exposure to the legionella bacteria. It frequently begins with the following signs and symptoms:

  • Headache
  • Muscle pain
  • Chills
  • Fever that may be 104 F (40 C) or higher

If you have Legionnaires’ disease, by the second or third day, you’ll develop other signs and symptoms that may include:

  • Cough, which may bring up mucus and sometimes blood
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
  • Confusion or other mental changes”

It is usually contracted when a person inhales the bacteria into their lungs. Legionnaires’ Disease can lead to a number of fatal complications, such as respiratory failure, acute kidney failure, and septic shock, so it should be taken extremely seriously and be treated as soon as you suspect you have contracted it.

If you have any of the symptoms of Legionnaires’ Disease, please see a medical professional immediately so that you can get started on the proper antibiotics. It is an easily treatable disease if caught quickly, but if you let it develop it could turn into a fatal problem.

From Avvo