Ever since the tragic emergence of Legionnaires’ disease in Philadelphia in 1976, maintenance and engineering managers have kept a closer eye on their facilities’ HVAC systems. Since its emergence, the airborne disease has cropped up occasionally in facilities, often with deadly results, as officials in several San Diego facilities have found out.
First, San Diego State University reopened two buildings that had been shuttered since February, when a case of Legionnaires’ disease surfaced among its faculty. Legionella pneumophila, the bacteria that causes the disease, in three samples collected along a water line in an annex adjacent to the university’s Exercise and Nutritional Sciences building.
Now, legionella, a bacteria that leads to Legionnaires’ disease that kills an estimated one in 10 people, was found in a state building in February, according to ABC 10 News. But state officials only closed the Mission Valley building to the public and employees after someone inside reported testing positive for the illness this month.
The department of General Services said legionella was found in samples taken from 7575 Metropolitan Drive during routine testing in February.
Monica Hassan, deputy director, of the Department of General Services said the finding “is typical when testing is performed in large buildings.” She said after receiving a report of a legionella case from someone associated with the building, the state decided to close it while testing and mitigation continues.
UC San Diego Health infectious diseases expert Dr. Francesca Torriani said she suspects the warming climate is leading to more cases due to increased humidity.
Dan Hounsell is senior editor of the facilities market. He has more than 30 years of experience writing about facilities maintenance, engineering and management.
