One person is dead and patients of Spectrum Health Pennock Hospital in Hastings with flu like symptoms are being told to get tested for Legionnaires' disease.

The testing is part of a national protocol that was triggered following a second patient being diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease. The test results were delivered to the Barry-Eaton Health Department Wednesday December 26, 2018.

Despite tests showing that Legionella bacteria was present in the hospital's water system, there has been no confirmed reports of the the disease being contracted from Spectrum Health Pennock Hospital in Hastings.

 

Legionnaire’s disease is a type of pneumonia and is caused by the Legionella bacteria. It can be treated with antibiotics, but one out of 10 people die from the disease. It can not spread from person to person.

Symptoms include:

  • cough
  • shortness of breath
  • muscle aches
  • headache
  • fever

The first Legionnaires' disease diagnosis came in September with the second patient being diagnosed in November. Testing for the hospital's water took place on December 18, 2018.

The patient that died was elderly with other possible complications. The second patient was treated and released.

At this time a spokesperson from Spectrum Health Pennock Hospital says that the hospital is working with local and state health departments, making plans to install a new water filtration system and testing patients at the hospital for Legionnaires' disease.

Patients of the hospital are being given bottled water until a new water filtration system can be put into place.

 

 

The city of Hasting’s water supply is not impacted by the Legionella bacteria and is safe to drink.

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