Image by Spike Summers from Pixabay
The tragedy of Legionnaires’ disease at Pasadena Fundamental Elementary School just before Thanksgiving and disruption of class locations has parents and staff looking for answers.
The Florida State Department of Health is currently investigating the death of a teacher potentially linked to the elementary school they worked at.
Here’s what we know about the Legionnaires’ disease at Pasadena Fundamental Elementary School situation.
Just before Thanksgiving, the 61-year-old kindergarten teacher was admitted to the hospital with symptoms consistent with pneumonia or Legionnaires’ disease. High fever, chills, painful headache, and sweats, according to a family member.
Her condition rapidly deteriorated until her organs started to fail.
She remained in the hospital in intensive care for four days before succumbing to her illness on November 24, 2024. State health officials confirmed laboratory results showed positive results for Legionella bacteria – the microbe responsible for Legionnaires’ disease.
School officials indicate that students in certain classrooms will be moved to another building while repairs are being made to an air-conditioning system. The note, however, did not mention Legionnaires’ disease or the teacher’s death.
The note did mention air quality tests.
“In an abundance of caution, air quality tests will also be done to ensure students and staff remain safe.”
The note from Pasadena Fundamental Elementary School principal Donita Moody indicated that students who normally had classes in Building 4 would be taught elsewhere while repairs were made.
As many as seven classrooms may be impacted.
No timeline has been given yet on when results will be available or when students will return to their normal classes. Only that “students will return to their original classroom as soon as repairs are completed.”
Officials say that the district is still waiting on the test results for the air samples taken from the building.
One source indicated that there have been previous concerns over the air-conditioner. Those concerns include standing water and black mold lingering in the air-conditioner handler that were reportedly raised to the school’s administration.
Legionnaires’ disease is not caused by black mold, but standing water could be a factor in spreading Legionnaires’ disease illness.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious illness caused by Legionella bacterial infection in the lungs. These microscopic germs can be found in the environment. Places like lakes and streams.
The problem happens when they make their way into human-made water systems. This is where the significant health threat happens.
People become infected with they breathe in aerosolized water droplets containing these tiny bacteria.
Certain water systems contribute to this aerosolization, allowing those bacteria to hitch a ride into the air where they can be inhaled into the lungs.
Common human-made water systems at risk for spreading Legionella bacteria:
Home air-conditioning systems and car systems are not a risk for Legionella growth as they do not use water to cool the air. These systems generally use a different type of air-cooling technology.
Even more rare (but possible), people may become infected by drinking water contaminated with Legionella bacteria if it accidentally reaches someone’s lungs after it is swallowed. This can happen if contaminated water is aspirated. Commonly known as “going down the wrong pipe.”
Staff and parents alike are likely concerned about the recent death involving Legionnaires’ disease at Pasadena Fundamental Elementary School.
Who is more susceptible?
Staff or students?
While not everyone who is exposed will become sick, certain groups of people are more susceptible to infection and more serious illness.
These include:
Children, unless immune compromised or have certain health conditions, aren’t generally high up on the risky list.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious illness.
Deadly, in fact.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 1 in 10 people with Legionnaires’ disease will die from complication of their illness. For those in a health care facility setting, this statistic increases to 1 in 4!
Legionnaires’ disease is hard to diagnose. Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease are very similar to those of typical pneumonia illness. In fact, without specialized laboratory tests, the two illnesses are indistinguishable from each other. Even when observed on a chest x-ray.
Common symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease include:
Some people with Legionnaires’ disease may also experience diarrhea, nausea, and/or confusion.
Symptoms usually begin around 2 to 14 days after exposure to the bacteria, though in some cases it may take longer.
Fortunately, Legionnaires’ disease is not spread from person to person. It is unlikely that you can become sick when exposed to someone with Legionnaires’ disease as it is not typically contagious except in extremely rare circumstances.
If you have visited or worked at Pasadena Fundamental Elementary School and have been diagnosed with pneumonia illness, you may have contracted Legionnaires’ disease.
Medical bills, lost time at work, and other burdens associated with this entirely preventable illness add up. An experienced Legionnaires’ disease lawyer can help you through this difficult process.
If you have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease or pneumonia illness and wish to make a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC can help!
Call (833) 330-3663 or fill out the online submission form for a free, no obligation consultation.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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