Eight confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease have emerged at a Thornville nursing home, prompting health officials to investigate whether the building’s water system played a role. The cluster has grown quickly, with the facility restricting water use and adding filters as officials work to contain the risk.
The first case was identified last Wednesday, followed by a second case Thursday, according to WSYX. By Monday, the Fairfield County health commissioner said eight cases had been confirmed at the nursing home in Thornville, which is just north of Lancaster.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people most commonly become infected by breathing in mist or tiny water droplets contaminated with the bacteria, including droplets produced by faucets, showerheads and other water devices.
The facility has installed water filters and restricted water while the investigation continues, WSYX reported. Those steps point investigators toward the building’s plumbing or other water-related equipment, although no confirmed source has been publicly identified.
Why Nursing Homes Face Extra Legionnaires’ Risk
The CDC classifies nursing homes as long-term care facilities in Legionnaires’ disease surveillance, noting that they can house people who are especially vulnerable to severe illness and may have large, complex water systems. Older adults, smokers and people with chronic lung disease, diabetes, cancer, kidney problems or weakened immune systems face elevated risk after exposure.
Symptoms can include cough, fever, headache, muscle aches and shortness of breath, and they typically develop two to 14 days after exposure, according to the CDC. Legionnaires’ disease generally is not spread from person to person, leaving environmental testing and water-management measures at the Thornville facility as central parts of the investigation.
