The hospital also confirmed a single case of Pontiac fever, a milder infection caused by the same type of Legionella bacteria responsible for Legionnaires’ disease. That brings the total number of cases to 11: nine in Montgomery County, and one each in Warren and Greene counties.
One of the cases — a Dayton man in his 70s — died Feb. 22, but the hospital said Legionnaires’ disase was not the cause. However, the hospital declined to say if Legionnaires’ disease may have been a contributing factor in the man’s death, citing patient privacy concerns.
Thursday’s developments come on the eve of test results expected Saturday that could indicate whether the water system in the hospital’s new 12-story addition — called the “patient tower” — was the source of the outbreak. A hospital spokeswoman said the test results likely will not be made public until Monday.
The number of Legionnaires’ disease cases is already nearly double the six cases that Miami Valley Hospital reported annually in 2008, 2009 and 2010. It’s the largest cluster of cases in Ohio since 13 confirmed and probable cases of Legionnaires’ disease were reported in a workplace in Cuyahoga County in July 2004.
People typically contract the disease by inhaling contaminated water in mist form, such as by taking showers.
The hospital has been in touch with county, state and federal health officials, and shut down the patient tower’s water system from Feb. 22 to Feb. 25 while sterilizing it.
While the 10 cases of Legionnaires’ disease at Miami Valley Hospital are the most reported in Ohio since 2004, outbreaks of the disease have been known to involve more than 100 cases, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention medical officer said Thursday.
“Most outbreaks involve fewer than 20 people because attack rates for Legionnaires’ disease are low,” said Dr. Lauri Hicks of the CDC. “For example, of 100 persons exposed to the same source, less than 5 percent are likely to develop illness.”
State and local health departments have jurisdiction over outbreaks, and the CDC typically becomes involved only at the invitation of the state health department when additional expertise or resources are deemed necessary.
The number of Legionnaires’ disease cases is nearly double the six cases MVH reported annually in 2008, 2009 and 2010. It’s the largest cluster of cases in Ohio since 13 confirmed and probable cases of Legionnaires’ disease were reported in a workplace in Cuyahoga County in July 2004.
People typically contract the disease by inhaling contaminated water in mist form, such as by taking showers. The hospital has been in touch with county, state and federal health officials, and shut down the patient tower’s water system Feb. 22-25 to sterilize it.
Each year, 8,000 to 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease in the U.S. It can cause death in 5 percent to 30 percent of cases, but often is treated successfully with antibiotics.
Anyone with concerns may call the hospital’s hot line, (937) 208-2666.
Legionnaires’ disease got its name in 1976, when high numbers of people attending a Philadelphia convention of the American Legion contracted the lung infection. Each year, 8,000 to 18,000 people are hospitalized with the disease in the U.S. It can cause death in 5 percent to 30 percent of cases, but often is treated successfully with antibiotics.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7457 or bsutherly@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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