Redstone Arsenal officials hold town hall on Legionnaires’ disease

Huntsville, AL (WAFF) – Redstone Arsenal officials are conducting testing in one building for Legionnaires’ disease after a man who worked on base died.

They held a town hall meeting Tuesday for workers who want answers to any questions about Legionnaires’ disease.

A Huntsville man who worked on Redstone Arsenal in the PEO Aviation building died of the disease on August 4th. Several viewers contacted WAFF 48 News after learning the cause of the man’s death.

Legionnaires’ disease can have symptoms like many other forms of pneumonia, so it can be difficult to diagnose.

[Find out more about Legionnaires’ disease from CDC]

Because Legionnaires’ is an airborne illness, Redstone officials are testing at the PEO Aviation building. They have not found any traces of the disease in the building so far. They are still waiting on results from a lab.

At a news conference Monday afternoon, officials said that civilian employees can take off work if they don’t feel it’s safe to be in the building.

Officials are also testing several people who are exhibiting upper respiratory problems. So far, there are no positive results for Legionnaires’ among these people.

A Redstone Arsenal spokesman said they are doing everything possible to get the word out to employees about the possible health risk.

WAFF 48 News will continue to track new developments in this story.

Original article at: WAFF.com