Legionnaires’ Disease Case Reported at 26 Federal Plaza
A Public Agency with Offices at 26 Federal Plaza Notified the General Services Administration of a Case of Legionnaires’ Disease Among One of Its Employees Recently
A public agency with offices at 26 Federal Plaza notified the General Services Administration of a case of Legionnaires’ disease among one of its employees recently, THE CITY and Healthbeat have learned. The reported case of Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia, comes less than three weeks after GSA found the bacteria that can cause the disease in water throughout the building, which houses immigration court and federal law enforcement offices.
GSA’s Response
GSA, which operates the building, alerted tenant agencies in an email Monday that an individual connected to 26 Federal Plaza had tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease. "No direct connection has been made between this report and the water quality in the building," a GSA representative said in the email, which was provided to THE CITY and Healthbeat by a worker in the building.
Corrective Action Plan
GSA is "pursuing a corrective action plan" with a water management company, according to the email sent to tenants on Monday. The agency is offering bottled water to agencies in the building and started routine flushing of water tanks and pipes on September 13. GSA also began routine flushing of all drinking water outlets and showers on Monday and installed filters on all shower heads last week, according to the email.
Expert Insights
"This is an alert, an alarm, but I don’t think there’s a need to panic," said Chuanwu Xi, a professor of environmental health sciences and of global public health at the University of Michigan School of Public Health who has researched the growth of Legionella bacteria.
Legionnaires’ Disease: What You Need to Know
Legionnaires’ disease often requires hospitalization; the disease carries a case fatality rate of about 10%, according to the CDC. Most healthy people exposed to Legionella bacteria do not get sick, but those at increased risk of developing Legionnaires’ disease include current or former smokers, people who are at least 50 years old, or those with cancer, chronic lung disease, diabetes, kidney failure, liver failure, and weakened immune systems.
Prevention and Treatment
Legionnaires’ disease can be easily resolved if caught early and treated with antibiotics, but can become severe if it goes undetected, said Dr. Waleed Javaid, a professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a director of infection prevention. With the reported case of Legionnaires’ disease at 26 Federal Plaza, Javaid cautioned against panic, emphasizing that more information is needed to understand the extent of the issue. He advised people concerned about their exposure to Legionella to follow public health guidance in the building and keep an eye out for symptoms, including respiratory illness, fevers, and confusion.
Conclusion
The reported case of Legionnaires’ disease at 26 Federal Plaza serves as a reminder of the importance of proactive water quality management and the need for building owners and managers to take steps to prevent the growth of Legionella bacteria. While the case is concerning, it is not a cause for panic, and with proper precautions and treatment, those affected can recover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Legionnaires’ disease?
A: Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria.
Q: Who is at risk of developing Legionnaires’ disease?
A: Those at increased risk of developing Legionnaires’ disease include current or former smokers, people who are at least 50 years old, or those with cancer, chronic lung disease, diabetes, kidney failure, liver failure, and weakened immune systems.
Q: How is Legionnaires’ disease treated?
A: Legionnaires’ disease can be easily resolved if caught early and treated with antibiotics, but can become severe if it goes undetected.
Q: What can building owners and managers do to prevent the growth of Legionella bacteria?
A: Building owners and managers can take steps to prevent the growth of Legionella bacteria by flushing the water system regularly, disinfecting the system, and installing filters on shower heads and other water outlets.
