(KRON) — Experts are searching for the source of Legionella bacteria that recently infected several people at the Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center, the company told KRON4 on Tuesday.
The presence of the bacteria was identified during routine internal monitoring processes, according to Kaiser Permanente. The company confirmed “several cases” of Legionella infection, called legionellosis, but did not give an exact number of patients.
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“Legionella bacteria occur naturally in water and are spread by inhaling contaminated mist, not through person-to-person contact,” Kaiser Permanente said in a statement to KRON4. “The source of the contamination is unclear at this time.”
Although the bacteria naturally occur in lakes and streams, they can also grow in human-made water systems, according to the California Department of Public Health. Legionella can spread through the use of showerheads or faucets, for example, where small water droplets or mist can be inhaled into the lungs.
The Santa Clara Medical Center implemented additional water treatment measures out of an abundance of caution, officials said…