PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — A case of Legionnaires’ disease has been reported in association with the Elmhurst Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health.
Legionnaires’ disease, according to RIDOH, is a serious kind of pneumonia caused by ingesting the Legionella bacteria, which can grow in warm or slow-moving water. According to the Centers for Disease Control, around 1 in 10 people who develop the disease will die from complications; that number rises to 1 in 4 people for those who get the disease while staying in a healthcare facility.
RIDOH says that buildings with complex water systems are more vulnerable to the growth of Legionella bacteria…