Possible Exposure to Legionnaire's Disease at Mercy Cancer Center

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The Legionnaires' Warning is intended for patients at the Mercy Outpatient Cancer Center in Springfield. (Photo: photo file)

State and municipal health departments report a risk of exposure to Legionnaires' disease at the Mercy Outpatient Cancer Center in Springfield.

According to a press release from the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, the Missouri Department of Health and Seniors Services, the Springfield-Greene County Health Department and Mercy Springfield are working together to investigate two cases of legionellosis reported since the end of April at the Mercy Outpatient Cancer Center in Springfield.

One species of Legionella – although not the species usually associated with Legionnaires' disease – was found in water samples reported on May 31, according to the Department of Health.

This indicates that the conditions are conducive to the growth of Legionella in the water supply system of this facility. However, according to the press release, there is no guarantee that it was the source of the disease.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (DSSS) is very cautious about the potential risk to the health of people who may have been in contact with a source of water in the cancer center. The facility is located at 2055 S. Fremont Avenue.

The notice does not include other facilities on the campus of the hospital.

Mercy is currently looking for patients who have been seen in the cancer center over the last three weeks so that they are aware of the investigation and know what signs and symptoms to watch for.

Mercy has put in place a routine test and treatment protocol for the water supply systems at her facility and is actively following steps from the Department of Earth Safety to mitigate this potential problem.

According to the Department of Health, legionellosis is a serious type of pneumonia contracted by breathing small water droplets containing certain types of Legionella bacteria. Legionellosis usually occurs in nature and not all people exposed to the bacteria contract an illness.

The risk may be greater if a person is aged 50 or older, smokes a cigarette or has certain health problems, such as a weakened immune system. People do not transmit Legionnaires' disease to other people.

The Health Department has indicated that if you develop pneumonia symptoms within two weeks of visiting the Mercy Outpatient Cancer Center in Springfield, you should seek immediate medical attention.

Symptoms usually include coughing, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches, headache, confusion, nausea, and diarrhea.

Additional information on Legionella is available on the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/legionella/index.html.