SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, November 4, 2005
CONTACT: Doneen Hollingsworth, (605) 773-3361

Additional cases of Legionnaires’ reported, linked to source; Two more educational sessions planned

PIERRE, S.D. – The Department of Health said today that four cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been reported this week and all have links to Casa Del Rey, the restaurant identified as a source of the Rapid City outbreak on October 29.

“We announced the Casa Del Rey fountain as a source of the outbreak because we knew there could be more people out there who had been exposed and were at risk of becoming ill. We advised people who had been at the restaurant before the fountain was removed to see their doctor if they became ill with fever, cough or difficulty breathing,” said Secretary of Health Doneen Hollingsworth. “That’s exactly how we identified these additional cases, as interviews indicate all new cases were at the restaurant during their exposure period.”

Two individuals are Rapid City residents and the other two are from Meade and Bon Homme counties. The new cases bring the total number of cases to 19.  The age range of cases in the outbreak is 51 to 88. The median age is 66. Eleven are male and eight are female.

Legionnaires' is caused by bacteria that are widely distributed in the environment. The bacteria is found in creeks and ponds, hot and cold water taps, hot water tanks, water in air conditioning cooling towers and evaporative condensers, and soil at excavation sites. The disease is spread through the air from a water source. It is not spread person to person.

Hollingsworth said the department will bring Tim Keane, Legionella Risk Management, Inc., to Pierre on December 6 and Sioux Falls on December 7 for specialized training on operating and maintaining cooling towers and other water systems. The training is targeted for operators, chemical suppliers and others involved in water systems. Keane serves on the ASHRAE committee that is updating the national guidelines for minimizing the risk of legionellosis associated with facility water systems. ASHRAE is the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.  Similar training was given in Rapid City on October 26.

Keane assisted the department with its investigation on site in Rapid City, in particular the environmental sampling. The sampling focused on potential sources including cooling towers, swamp coolers, ornamental fountains, and process water systems. The systems were identified by aerial survey, driving and walking surveys of the area and also through contacts with local property managers, water treatment companies, industrial HVAC contractors and industrial plumbing contractors. In addition to sampling the facilities, Keane also audited their operations and worked closely with microbiological experts at the CDC and Special Pathogens Lab, a legionella laboratory in Pennsylvania.