Hawaii Hospital Investigates Possible Legionella Outbreak

Hawaii health officials are investigating a possible Legionella outbreak at Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu after one patient died and three others were hospitalized with Legionnaire’s disease, according to KHON-TV.

The patient died in May after being admitted with pneumonia-like symptoms and may have had an underlying medical condition. Doctors believe the deceased patient and another who has been released acquired Legionella outside the hospital. But the state Department of Health stepped in after learning two other patients developed symptoms after already being hospitalized, making it possible they contracted Legionnaire’s in the hospital, according to KHON.

Officials took water samples at the hospital earlier this week. Legionella has an incubation period of two to 10 days and is spread through water that has been aerosolized. People with weak immune systems are susceptible.

KHON reported that Queen’s is not allowing high-risk patients with weak immune systems to take showers or flush the toilet. They are restricted to drinking bottled water and the hospital is replacing all of its faucets.