More than 100 residents of a senior housing complex in North Portland were evacuated from their homes on Tuesday after a bacterial pneumonia, known as Legionnaires’ disease, killed one person and four others were hospitalized.
The Department of Health in Multnomah County said Tuesday that health officials determined on Jan. 4 that the bacteria likely came into the water supply at the Rosemont Court senior residential complex.
Health officials say Legionnaires’ disease is not contagious and most people exposed to Legionella bacteria do not get sick, but for people at increased risk, drops of water along with the bacteria can lead to severe pneumonia.
It is not yet clear how many residents are ill.
After Multnomah County officials discovered the issue, they offered residents temporary accommodation at motels and provided bottled water, hand washing stations and other amenities. Twenty people left Rosemont Court Monday night while others moved Tuesday.
“This is a unique and worrying situation,” said Dr. Jennifer Vines, health officer at Multnomah County, said, “and we are working with our partners as soon as possible to determine if other properties or water resources are affected.”