NEEDHAM, MASS. (WHDH) - The Massachusetts State Department of Health is investigating a case of Legionnaires’ disease at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Needham.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said the case was “healthcare associated,” and that the person who contracted the disease was a patient at the hospital.
Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia caused by a bacteria found in water and isn’t transmitted from person to person, officials said.
Most people exposed don’t actually become sick, but those at risk include current or former smokers, people over 50, and those already dealing with health conditions.
Officials say they will be testing water that the patient came in contact with to find the source.
“The other question would be, ‘have there been other patients with similar symptoms who perhaps were not diagnosed with legionella?'” said Dr. Shira Doron of Tufts Medical Center. “Because, they didn’t have a legionella test, but may have had legionella, so you can get a better view of what the score of the problem might be.”
Health officials said isolated cases occur routinely and that it usually is not a cause for public health concern.
The illness is rare and does require a specific test to confirm a diagnosis.
Symptoms for legionella typically take two weeks to two months to develop.
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