Caso de Legionella : Legionnaires outbreak at local senior living facility

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- First Coast News has learned of an apparent outbreak of Legionnaires' disease at an elder care facility.

The Duval County Health Department issued a Health Advisory after three residents of Camellia at Deerwood contracted a type of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria.

Legionnaires' disease is not spread by human contact, rather is typically caused by breathing in contaminated vapor from fountains, hot tubs or spas. It can be dangerous, or even fatal in older people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when it comes to Legionella bacteria, outbreaks occur "when two or more people become ill in the same place at about the same time."

The Department of Health notice was issued on April 18, but some residents' family members say they weren't notified until several days later. One family said their loved one with dementia didn't receive the notice until after 6 pm on April 24.

We spoke to Perry Brown, the facility's general manager. He declined to say whether any additional residents have gotten sick since the notice went out, but he did say "we are working directly with the Health Department to keep our residents safe."

Health officials have collected water samples from the facility, and are waiting on results.