Source: http://michiganradio.org, October 6, 2016
By: Steve Carmody
Legionella bacteria has been detected at a residence hall at the University of Michigan-Flint.
Legionella bacteria turned up in three water samples in the Riverfront Residence hall. No illnesses have been reported.
“Please let me reassure you that in checking with the Centers for Disease Control I have been told that these test results do not indicate immediate risk to our campus or community,” says Susan Borrego, U of M Flint Chancellor.
Chancellor Borrego says the university is taking “corrective action” including “flushing the water system and working with national experts to maintain safe water.”
U of M-Flint officials say an independent consultant has been testing the university’s water supply for the past two years.
University officials and Genesee County health officials say the Legionella bacteria at the residence hall is not connected to the deadly Legionnaire’s disease outbreak of 2014-2015. Twelve people died and dozens of other people were hospitalized.
This year, Genesee County has recorded 10 cases with Legionnaire’s disease. There have been no fatalities. County health officials say none of the cases is related to the bacteria discovered at U of M-Flint.