Legionnaire’s sickens 39 in Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio – An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at a central Ohio retirement community has now sickened 39 people.
Five people died in the outbreak of the disease that began last month at Wesley Ridge Retirement Community in Reynoldsburg.
The Columbus Dispatch reported the disease is linked to bacteria in an air conditioning cooling tower and several water sources.
Legionnaires’ disease is not contagious. The rare form of pneumonia is contracted when people breathe in tiny droplets of contaminated water.
The elderly and those with medical problems are most vulnerable to severe infections. Victims of the outbreak range in age from 63 to 99, with 32 people hospitalized.
Health officials believe measures taken since the beginning of the outbreak have prevented any new infections.