Source: http://www.oceancitytoday.net, November 19, 2015
By: Josh Davis

Older people more likely to contract disease caused by inhalation of infected water

Officials with the Worcester County Health Department this week confirmed that testing for Legionnaire’s Disease at an Ocean City condominium came back positive for the presence of Legionella bacteria.
An investigation was triggered after the department discovered that two visitors to the Golden Sands condominium on 109th Street had tested positive for the disease, a form of pneumonia.
“The health department has requested a plan from the facility to address the results,” Debra Stevens, WCHD head of nursing, said in an emailed statement on Wednesday. “We will continue to monitor the facility for successful treatment.”
Speaking during a phone interview earlier in the week, Stevens said the health department conducts investigations for Legionella “whenever there is a link of Legionnaire’s disease between two people.”
“In this instance, the link was that both cases stayed at the Golden Sands during the month of October,” she said.
Stevens said that investigation included an assessment of the facility and water testing, and confirmed that water samples were taken from the condominium last week and tested at a state health facility.
She said the health department was in the process of notifying others who stayed at the Golden Sands, dating back to Oct. 9, that they may have been exposed to Legionella.
“The reason that we notify prior guests is that in case anybody is sick now that did not seek medical attention, they’ll know that they might have been exposed so that they can get the appropriate treatment,” Stevens said. “Legionella is a treatable disease if it’s caught early, but obviously if somebody doesn’t seek medical attention their illness can be more severe.”
Stevens went on to say the various owners of the Golden Sands complex have been notified and the condominium has posted information on Legionnaire’s disease inside its elevators.
The health department has also tried to inform new guests how they can avoid exposure, starting with the fact that the disease is not communicable.
“It’s not spread person-to-person,” Stevens said. “The way that you get exposed is by inhaling that germ that might be in the water. We tell people to avoid aerosolized water, however they want to do that. A lot of times that means not getting in the shower, but rather tub bathing with a very slow stream.”
People over 50 are more susceptible to the disease, Stevens said, along with those who have compromised immune systems including heart disease, lung disease, diabetes and anyone undergoing cancer treatments.
Stevens said the disease would be contained within the plumbing structure of the building, meaning outside exposure would not be likely. Because of the positive test results, the health department is recommending the condominium obtain independent water consultants, who would then develop a remediation plan.
Typically, the plan would involve superheating or extra-chlorinating the water supply, according to Stevens.
“The health department’s role will be to make sure that the facility does remediate, and then does additional water testing to show that that the cleanup of the water has proven effective by getting rid of the Legionella,” Stevens said.
Stevens said positive tests for Legionnaire’s Disease are not unusual in Ocean City.
“This is not a Worcester County issue,” Stevens said. “Legionnaire’s outbreaks occur nationally and internationally. It’s not uncommon to see these types of outbreaks, especially at hotels. It’s something that happens everywhere.”