Five individuals in Lincoln, New Hampshire, have developed Legionnaires’ disease, a bacterial pneumonia, believed to have been caused by exposure to contaminated water droplets from a cooling tower at the RiverWalk Resort. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the presence of Legionella bacteria in the tower and is working with the resort to address the issue.
While most healthy individuals exposed to Legionella bacteria do not become ill, there is still a risk of exposure to the public due to the ongoing operation of the cooling tower during remediation efforts. Dr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist, has advised anyone who visited the area near the cooling tower to monitor themselves for symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Individuals with underlying health conditions such as chronic lung disease, diabetes, or a weakened immune system are at a higher risk of developing Legionnaires’ disease.
Last year, a similar outbreak occurred at a campground in Meredith, New Hampshire, where five people were hospitalized and subsequently recovered. The department is urging anyone who may have been exposed to Legionella bacteria near the contaminated cooling tower in Lincoln to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms of pneumonia within 14 days of exposure.
Additional test results for the cooling tower at the RiverWalk Resort are expected next week, and the department will continue to provide updates on the situation.
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