Earth Watch Report
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| Today | Biological Hazard | USA | State of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh [VA Pittsburgh Healthcare Systems University Drive Campus] |  |
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Biological Hazard in USA on Saturday, 17 November, 2012 at 10:55 (10:55 AM) UTC.
| Description | |
| Four patients at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System’s University Drive Campus in Oakland this week developed pneumonia caused by Legionnaires’ disease, and more might have been exposed to the potentially deadly bacteria, officials said on Friday. The source of the infection was traced to the hospital’s water distribution system, prompting workers to change the way the system is disinfected. The four Legionnaires’ patients, whose identities cannot be released by hospital officials according to federal law, were successfully treated with “good outcomes” and have been released from the hospital, said Dave Cowgill, spokesman for VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. Cowgill wrote in an email that the restrictions on water use started Friday and would remain in effect until administrators are sure the bacteria is gone. Workers distributed bottled water to be used by patients and visitors. An internal memo to medical staff from infection control chief Robert Muder obtained by the Tribune-Review asked physicians to monitor other patients for hospital-acquired Legionnaires’ infections because the incubation period can be as long as 14 days.In the memo, Muder asked doctors to treat any other patients determined to be affected with a “timely administration of antibiotics” and to report all new diagnoses of pneumonia to the infectious disease department within 30 days. He could not be reached for comment. The hospital conducted an investigation with the help of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and found an elevated concentration of the bacteria called Legionella, which tends to survive in the moist air-conditioning systems of large buildings and within waterlines and storage systems that get irregular or little use. Water fountains inside the hospital on Friday were covered with signs: “Due to a water line problem, this fountain is out of service.” Employees said they were told not to drink the water or use the ice machine. Most people exposed to the Legionella bacteria do not become ill. Elderly people, smokers and individuals with chronic lung disease or weakened immune systems are more vulnerable. | |
| Biohazard name: | Legionnaires disease |
| Biohazard level: | 4/4 Hazardous |
| Biohazard desc.: | Viruses and bacteria that cause severe to fatal disease in humans, and for which vaccines or other treatments are not available, such as Bolivian and Argentine hemorrhagic fevers, H5N1(bird flu), Dengue hemorrhagic fever, Marburg virus, Ebola virus, hantaviruses, Lassa fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and other hemorrhagic or unidentified diseases. When dealing with biological hazards at this level the use of a Hazmat suit and a self-contained oxygen supply is mandatory. The entrance and exit of a Level Four biolab will contain multiple showers, a vacuum room, an ultraviolet light room, autonomous detection system, and other safety precautions designed to destroy all traces of the biohazard. Multiple airlocks are employed and are electronically secured to prevent both doors opening at the same time. All air and water service going to and coming from a Biosafety Level 4 (P4) lab will undergo similar decontamination procedures to eliminate the possibility of an accidental release. |
| Symptoms: | |
| Status: | confirmed |
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