Two residents test positive for Legionnaires’ disease in Duluth

There has been a new disease concern from residents of a Duluth senior apartment building.

Seniors leaving in the woodland garden apartment building are worried legionnaires’ disease in their building. According to the CDC legionnaires’  is a lung infection, a serious type of pneumonia caused by legionella bacteria

People can get sick when they breathe in small droplets of water or accidently swallow water containing legionella into the lungs. Last month, the Minnesota department of health confirmed two resident of the apartment complex tested positive for the disease which can be fatal for people above the age of fifty.

The legionella bacteria can spread in building water systems like showerheads, hot hubs and hot water tanks. Residents who do not want to be identified are concerned that a proper investigation had not been conducted on the water system in the apartment complex.

But, the department of health says they have conducted an accurate investigation into the matter and have informed residents.

In general, people do not spread Legionnaires’ disease to other people. However, this may be possible under rare circumstances. Also about one in ten people who gets sick from Legionnaires’ disease will die.