An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at an apartment complex in Portland, Ore., Has killed at least one person and admitted four other people to hospital, officials said this week.
The Department of Health in Multnomah County said in a news release on Tuesday that more than 100 residents of Rosemont Court in North Portland are being asked to move temporarily after several people became ill with pneumonia.
Investigations on Monday revealed that the building’s water supply is the likely source of the Legionnaires’ outbreak.
The health department is working closely with Northwest Housing Alternatives, which owns Rosemont Court, to temporarily resettle residents and ensure proper cleaning of the plumbing system to remove all remaining Legionella bacteria, which occur naturally in freshwater but can cause health problems when it comes to a building’s water supply, ‘said health officials.
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Legionnaires’ disease is a serious form of pneumonia. People contract the disease when they inhale Legionella bacteria. The disease is not spread person-to-person.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Legionella pneumophila, a bacterium, is usually the cause of the disease. It occurs in soil and water, but causes more frequent infection as it multiplies in water systems such as bubbles and air conditioners.
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“This is a unique and worrying situation and we are working as quickly as possible with our partners to determine if other properties or water resources are affected,” said Dr. Jennifer Vines, a health officer in Multnomah County, said in a statement.
Residents have offered temporary accommodation at local motels, with 20 residents choosing to leave the building Monday night, and others are expected to follow suit, according to the health department.