Updated February 15 with new case totals and the identification of the outbreak source A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Grand Rapids, MN includes 14 people who became sick between the end of April and mid-July, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. All of them were hospitalized.
People get Legionnaires’ disease when they inhale water vapor that is contaminated with Legionella. Although these bacteria are found in nature they grow best in the warm water of manmade structures such as fountains, hot tubs, cooling towers, and the plumbing systems of large commercial buildings.
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Most of the illnesses were “clustered in homes and other buildings in the area north of Golf Course Road/SE 10th Street, south of NE/NW 8th Street, east of 11th Avenue SW/10th Avenue NW, and west of 7th Avenue SE/8th Avenue NE,” according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
During the investigation of the outbreak, health officials collected water samples from the area. Tests showed that Legionella found in water samples from two buildings were highly related to each other and to the strain cultured from patients. These findings led MDH investigators to identify the municipal water supply as the source of the outbreak.
“We are working in partnership with the local water utility to determine the best way to address the situation,” MDH’s Environmental Health Division Director Tom Hogan said. “Additional water sampling is planned, and the results will be analyzed and used to inform additional actions and communication.”
Symptoms of Legionnaires’ Disease
Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease usually develop within two to 14 days of exposure. They include fever, cough, headache, and muscle aches. Most people with Legionnaires’ disease require hospitalization, about 10 percent of cases are fatal.
Last year, 109 cases of Legionnaires’ disease were reported in Minnesota.
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Experienced Legionnaires’ Disease Legal Team
Our Legionnaires’ lawyers are some of the few in the nation who have won multimillion-dollar recoveries for Legionnaires’ disease outbreak victims and their families. In 2016, we represented over a dozen people who were sickened in Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Hopkins, MN. To request your free consultation with our experienced Legionnaires’ Team, call us at 1-888-377-8900, text us at 612-261-0856, or use the form below.