Legionnaires’ case reported in Sunbury

A resident of a Sunbury nursing home has been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, the Delaware General Health District announced Tuesday.

The case involves a patient at the Country-view of Sunbury nursing home, the health district said. Neither the health district nor the nursing home would answer questions about the condition of the patient, citing federal medical privacy law.

“Due to concerns regarding resident privacy, Countryview of Sunbury cannot provide any information related to resident diagnosis or treatment. The facility takes very seriously the health and safety of our residents and staff,” Clara Wukelich, a risk management clinician representing Country-view of Sunbury, said in an emailed statement.

The health district said its environmental division staff and a certified plumbing inspector have visited the nursing home to help identify possible sources and conduct sampling for the Legionella bacteria, recommend remediation strategies and determine which additional residents might need to be tested. The Ohio Department of Health is assisting in the investigation.

Water use restrictions are now in place to reduce exposure from shower heads and faucets, the health district said.

Legionella bacteria occur naturally in complex water systems like those in hospitals, nursing homes and hotels. People with compromised immune systems are susceptible to the bacteria, which can be contracted by breathing in small water droplets.

Legionnaires’ disease symptoms are similar to pneumonia and include cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches and headaches.

At least 16 people contracted Legionnaires’ disease in a recent outbreak at the newly opened Mount Carmel Grove City Hospital, including one Grove City woman who died.

The husband of Deana Rezes, 75, of Grove City, who died on June 2, has filed a suit against the hospital. At least three others who became ill have also filed lawsuits in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

The most recent suit was filed last weekon behalf of James Lawton, 78, of Grove City. He had been in the hospital for one day on May 26-27 for breathing troubles and was readmitted after contracting a fever on June 3. The Legionnaires’ diagnosis was made on June 7, and he was transferred to a rehabilitation facility for two weeks and still requires supplemental oxygen, the suit says.

One case of Legionnaires’ disease also was reported recently involving an inmate at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s Franklin Medical Center.