Five people in New Hampshire have developed Legionnaires’ disease after possibly being exposed to contaminated water droplets from a cooling tower in downtown Lincoln, New Hampshire, state health officials said.
Five people developed severe pneumonia caused by Legionnaires’ bacteria in June and July, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services said in a news release Monday.
Authorities said they “may have been exposed” to radiation from a cooling tower behind the Riverwalk Resort, a hotel in a busy tourist area of downtown Lincoln.
Testing by DHHS and the state Department of Environmental Services confirmed the presence of Legionella bacteria contaminating the cooling tower.
The health department said the five people did not say specifically where they became infected but reported visiting different areas of Lincoln.
Four of the five people diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease were initially hospitalized and have since been released, and state health officials told NBC News on Tuesday that all five have recovered from the illness.
“Riverwalk is partnering with DHHS to address the contamination and additional testing results for the cooling tower are expected next week,” the press release stated.
Because the cooling towers are still operating during the repairs, “residents, particularly those within a half mile of the cooling towers, may continue to be at risk for Legionella infection,” the agency warned, releasing a photo of the radius of potential exposure. The repairs include mechanical cleaning and disinfection of the entire cooling system, as well as a long-term cleaning and water management plan.
Riverwalk Resorts told NBC Boston on Monday that repair work, which began Friday morning, has been completed, including a full sanitation of the cooling towers.
“We have partnered and will continue to partner with DHHS and DES to ensure the safety and protection of our guests and communities,” Executive Vice President Rene Blood said in a statement.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Legionella bacteria is naturally found in freshwater bodies but can pose a threat to humans if it grows and spreads in building water systems, such as cooling towers and storage tanks.
According to the CDC, most people become infected with Legionnaires’ disease by inhaling the bacteria in tiny droplets or mist in water, and infection does not typically spread from person to person.
Most healthy people do not become ill when exposed to Legionnaires’ bacteria, but older people, current or former smokers, people with weakened immune systems and those with certain medical conditions such as chronic lung disease or diabetes are at higher risk, state health officials said.
Many people infected with the bacteria experience mild or no symptoms at all, but it can cause a more severe form of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease, which “can be fatal if left untreated,” the release said. Symptoms, which include fever, cough and shortness of breath, usually appear two to 14 days after infection.
“Anyone who has been near the contaminated cooling towers should be on the lookout for symptoms,” New Hampshire state epidemiologist Dr Benjamin Chang warned.
“Anyone who develops a fever or symptoms of pneumonia within 14 days of being in the area should contact their health care provider and get tested for Legionnaires’ infection,” he said.
