Mysterious Cases Of Legionnaires’ Disease Appear In NJ

Mysterious cases of Legionnaires' disease have appeared in New Jersey in recent months, a deadly bacteria that has appeared in local water supplies and infected several people.

Water testing has revealed elevated levels of Legionella bacteria – the organisms that lead to Legionnaire's Disease – at several municipal properties in West Orange, town officials say. The bacteria was also found in the water at a nearby school.

One patient was diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease while staying at a Morris Township nursing home, while a Central Regional Middle School employee in Ocean County has been diagnosed with the respiratory infection, Superintendent Triantafillos Parlapanides said (see the list of cases below).

The elderly, young and sick are at higher risk of contracting Legionnaires' disease, which is usually not fatal in healthy individuals. But more cases are possible, officials said.

The New Jersey Department of Health pointed to statistics showing that the number of cases of Legionnaires' disease hit its highest point in more than a decade last year.

• 2006: 120
• 2007: 116
• 2008: 150
• 2009: 218
• 2010: 151
• 2011: 235
• 2012: 173
• 2013: 241
• 2014: 199
• 2015: 217
• 2016: 199
• 2017: 249

Many of the cases in 2018 are still under investigation and have yet to be classified or confirmed by the Department of Health, said Donna Leusner, spokesperson for the Department of Health.

The Department of Health said the goal is to look for common exposures among the cases throughout the state. If there are two confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease within 12 months involving people who live or work in the same building, public health officials perform an investigation into that building.

If there is one case of Legionnaires’ disease in a resident of a nursing home or healthcare facility, public health officials perform an investigation into that building as well. It is not unusual for there to be these types of investigations.

The disease was first discovered in 1976 after an outbreak at a Pennsylvania convention of the American Legion — hence its name.

There were about 6,100 confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease in the U.S. last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Legionnaires' disease doesn't spread from person to person. Instead, the bacteria spreads through mist, such as from air-conditioning units for large buildings, according to the CDC. Adults over the age of 50 and people with weak immune systems, chronic lung disease or heavy tobacco use are most at risk.

Many people exposed to the bacteria don't develop symptoms. Those who do develop symptoms may experience cough, fever, chills, shortness of breath, muscle aches, headaches and diarrhea.
Legionnaire's disease can be treated with antibiotics, such as azithromycin or ciprofloxacin.

Here are some of the recent New Jersey cases:

West Orange School Finds Legionella Bacteria In Water: Officials

A West Orange elementary school has joined a growing list of buildings in the town that are dealing with the discovery of Legionella bacteria in the water supply, administrators reported.

Redwood Elementary School last week began remediation efforts after four of 15 samples showed "very low levels of Legionella bacteria," the organisms that lead to Legionnaires' Disease. Read more here....

Bacteria In Water After West Orange Employee Hospitalized With Legionnaires' Disease

Water testing revealed elevated levels of Legionella bacteria – the organisms that lead to Legionnaires' Disease – at several municipal properties in West Orange, town officials announced last month.

According to a statement from town officials, properties and buildings that tested positive for elevated levels of the bacteria include Lafayette Park, O'Connor Park, Fire Headquarters, Firehouse No. 2, Firehouse No. 4 and Police Headquarters.

The Legionella bacteria found in the water at the two parks is specific to the field houses and not the public recreational areas, a West Orange spokesperson said. Read more...

Central Regional Employee Diagnosed With Legionnaires' Disease

A Central Regional Middle School employee has been diagnosed with Legionnaires' Disease, schools Superintendent Triantafillos Parlapanides recently.

"We don't even know if the person caught it at Central Middle School or on vacation," Parlapanides said. "But we wish (them) a fast and healthy recovery." He did not identify the name or the sex of the person.

Every part of the middle school was being tested to make certain the building is safe for students and employees, Parlapanides said. Read more here...

Legionnaires' Disease Found At Morris County Nursing Home: Report

One patient was recently diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease while staying at a Morris Township nursing home, the Daily Record reported.

The patient at Morris View Healthcare was the only one of the 283 patients to be diagnosed with the disease. They showed no symptoms, but were diagnosed during an unrelated hospital trip, county officials told the paper. Read more here...

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