The outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease has sickened at least 7 patients at Mount Carmel Grove City hospital in Ohio.
One of the victims stayed at the new $361 million hospital from April 29 through May 7. Five other patients who were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease were hospitalized between May 8 and May 20.
Dr. Richard Streck, chief clinical operations officer for the Mount Carmel Health System said in a news release:
We are not discussing the specifics and complexities of patient information. We can say that it’s too early to determine the final cause of death.”
Most people have a “low” risk of developing Legionnaires’ disease, according to Dr. Streck. However, hospitalized people with chronic, underlying medical conditions are at increased risk.
Legionnaires’ disease is deadly in about 10% of people in the general population who are diagnosed with the disease, but that rate can rise to 25% when the outbreak occurs in a hospital or nursing home.
The Legionella bacteria can cause outbreaks when it spreads to buildings with “complex water systems,” such as showers, faucets, drinking fountains, or hot tubs.
Source: Mount Carmel confirms 1 death after outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease