The hot water system at Mount Carmel Grove City has been identified as the source of the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at the Ohio hospital. Out of the sixteen people who have been sickened, one person has died.
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People get Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia, when they inhale water vapor that is contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Regular testing and maintenance can prevent an overgrowth of Legionella which exists in nature but thrives in the complex water systems in commercial buildings, cruise ships and hospitals.
In a statement released June 13, 2019, Mount Carmel said the contamination of the newly opened hospital’s hot water system occurred because of inadequate disinfection prior to the facility’s opening in late April. The hospital’s water system was flushed in February, but the procedure was not done again right before opening.
Mount Carmel Legionella Outbreak
The sixteen people sickened in this outbreak had a stay at the hospital before they became ill. They range in age from 48 – 90 years old. Nine of them are female, seven of them are male. Fourteen of the case-patients are from Franklin County, Ohio half of whom are from Columbus. One person is from Pickaway County and one person is from out of state, according to the Franklin County Health Department.
The hospital has implemented a number of steps to prevent further illnesses at the hospital including hiring the Legionella expert who identified the problem.
If you have been sickened in this outbreak and would like a free consultation without award-winning Legionnaires’ Disease Team, call us at 1 (888) 377-8900 (toll-free), send a text to 612-261-0856. Or, complete the form below.
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