Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Legionella,Legionnaire's disease,Outbreaks & Recalls on December 26, 2024
A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak from water tools sickens more than 30 factory workers in South Carolina. An unusual source of this type of illness. However, these findings pose a warning for similar manufacturers and a need for precautions, says a state official.
The Legionnaires’ disease outbreak from water tools was the largest of its kind in recent history. In addition to the size of the outbreak – sickening 30 workers, resulting in two deaths. Other aspects of the outbreak were novel.
Legionnaires’ disease is serious and can be severe, or even life-threatening. So the illnesses, while troubling, were not the odd variable in this scenario.
It was the way the illness was transmitted.
From a water tool.
More specifically, a water cutting tool and a floor scrubber.
Findings from the investigation conducted by the South Carolina Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were presented in a recent Emerging Infectious Diseases publication.
Lead author, Hani Mohoamed said, “according to my knowledge, this is the largest Legionella outbreak in an industrial facility during the last 12 or 12 years.”
This outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease illnesses resulted in 34 cases, 15 hospitalizations, and two deaths. All from a single plant between August and November 2022. Citing privacy concerns, the name of the plant was not named in the report.
Outbreak patients were also relatively young.
The median age of this outbreak was 40, while the U.S. average for Legionnaires’ disease patients is around 62.
The outbreak was also unusually severe. Nearly half of all those with the illness required hospitalization. Two people died.
Despite patient and staff interviews about situations surrounding the illnesses for several months, no source could be identified.
Finally, they had a lead.
An area of the plant was “fairly open” around two water tools.
Jet cutting machines.
This equipment uses high velocity jets of water mixed with crushed garnet for precision cutting. Samples obtained from the building water system and this machinery presented positive results. The two jet cutting machines were the probable source.
The theory being that these cutters aerosolize the bacteria into fine water droplets that can travel farther out into the building and are easily breathed in by unsuspecting factory workers. Additionally, the recirculated water is heated to a temperature between 95 and 104° F. The report notes that this temperature “is ideal for Legionella bacterial growth.”
Additionally, floor scrubbers could have spread the bacteria further throughout the facility.
This discovery may impact water management and safety plans, along with consideration of other atypical sources of Legionella bacterial vector in industrial settings.
Legionnaires’ disease is not contagious. Meaning, it is not typically spread from person to person.
People become infected with Legionella bacteria by breathing in contaminated water droplets caused by aerosolized water in the air. Much like those droplets made by the water cutting tool.
Most healthy individuals do not fall ill after being exposed to Legionella bacteria. However, certain groups of people are at an increased risk due to existing health factors.
While the infection can be treated with antibiotics, it is a serious illness. Most will require hospitalization to make a full recovery and 1 in 10 will die from the infection. This statistic jumps to 1 in 4 resulting in death if illness is acquired while staying in a healthcare facility.
Common risk factors include:
Legionella bacteria, like those spread in the water cutting tool, are responsible for two types of illnesses.
Pontiac Fever and Legionnaires’ disease.
The most notable difference between the two illnesses is pneumonia symptoms.
It is possible that more factory workers experienced the milder Pontiac Fever symptoms and were therefore never tested for the bacteria.
Pontiac fever is the milder of the two illnesses. Common symptoms involve fever and muscle aches that can begin anywhere from a few hours to several days following exposure. Most of the time symptoms resolve within a week or so.
Legionnaires’ disease, despite its severe nature, often goes undiagnosed. This is because Legionnaires’ disease symptoms are very close to those of typical pneumonia. In fact, chest x-rays often cannot distinguish between pneumonia and Legionnaires’ disease.
This complicates the recover process. Specifical medications can treat Legionnaires’ disease more quickly. But this treatment is only administered with a proper diagnosis.
Common Legionnaires’ disease symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches, and headaches. Some people with Legionnaires’ disease may also experience diarrhea, nausea, and confusion.
Often, symptoms begin within two days to two weeks following exposure. However, in some cases, symptoms may take longer to appear.
In addition to the routine underdiagnosis of Legionnaires’ disease, non-traditional sources complicate diagnosis and connections.
Advocate for yourself.
If you have pneumonia symptoms and believe you have been exposed to Legionella bacteria. You may have Legionnaires’ disease. Ask your health care provider for this specific test to be sure.
Need advice from a Legionnaires’ disease lawyer? The Lange Law Firm, PLLC can help!
Our Legionnaires’ disease lawyer has helped many families with situations just like yours recover millions of dollars due to illnesses acquired at no fault of their own.
Reach out by phone by calling (833) 330-3663 or fill out the online submission form to get in touch with our team. A free, no obligation consultation to go over the details of your situation can help determine if you have a legal case.
Don’t wait. Get the justice you deserve and call today!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)