A case of Legionnaires' disease at a Massachusetts hospital has become the target of an investigation by state health officials. A patient at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Needham was plagued by the illness, which typically roots from a bacterium found in water or soil, leading to severe pneumonia in some cases. Confirming the incident, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has not yet pinpointed the exact source of the patient's exposure to the Legionella bacteria within the hospital's environment.

According to an interview with NBC10 Boston, a representative for Beth Israel Needham stated, "We are investigating this case and continue to take all necessary steps to protect our patients, visitors and staff." The Department of Public Health has reacted by imposing strict infection control protocols, and while the full extent of the patient's condition remains undisclosed, experts emphasize that Legionnaires' disease is not contagious from person to person.

It's worth mentioning that Legionnaires' disease is contracted from Legionella bacteria, primarily through the inhalation of contaminated water droplets. Sources of dissemination could be air conditioning units or even hot tubs. In a statement obtained by WCVB, Dr. Sharon Wright, Chief Infection Prevention Officer for Beth Israel Lahey Health, stressed, "Legionella is a rare cause of infection in patients. Most people who are exposed to legionella do not develop infection from it."

Though bringing memories of disease outbreaks from earlier years, health authorities emphasized that this particular situation in Needham involves just a lone case. Dr. Amir Mohareb of Harvard Medical School, having studied the nature of infectious disease, brought some clarity. Talking with NBC10 Boston, he said, "If our department of public health experts believe that the infection could have been transmitted within the hospital, then I'm sure that's exactly what they are looking to mitigate and making sure that it doesn't go any further than it has."