Minnesota - Legionella Prevention and Costs of Legionnaires Outbreaks

July 12, 2024

The northeast Minnesota city of Grand Rapids took a major step in combatting an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease traced to the city’s water supply. Grand Rapids began permanently chlorinating its water. City officials hope the action will curb the perplexing outbreak, which started more than a year ago and has sickened nearly two dozen people. Health officials have confirmed 23 cases of Legionnaires’ in Grand Rapids since April of the prior year, up from 15 in March. Twenty people have been hospitalized. So far there have been no deaths, but the outbreak may not be over. (Source)

The Grand Rapids Public Utilities Commission (GRPUC) will be holding a town hall meeting to discuss plans to implement a disinfectant plan into the municipal water system using monochloramine. In April 2023, it was confirmed that Legionella bacteria was discovered in the city’s public water system by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Despite the presence of Legionella in the water system, the water is safe to drink, insists the GRPUC. In a May 17, letter notifying the public of the upcoming town hall meeting, the GRPU stated: “The drinking water that GRPU delivers to your property meets all federal and state water quality standards and regulations. The quality of water can change once it leaves our pipes and enters your building, due to the unique interior plumbing system at your property. Everyone has unique plumbing systems. Twenty cases of Legionnaires' disease have been confirmed in Grand Rapids since April 2023. To date, no deaths are associated with this outbreak. In response, the utility is working diligently to remediate the issue and prevent any future outbreaks.” (Source)

March 7, 2024

According to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), both epidemiologic and laboratory data point to areas of the municipal water system as the source of the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in the northeastern Minnesota city of Grand Rapids. Fourteen cases of Legionnaires’ disease were confirmed since April 2023. MDH determined the municipal water supply was the only common exposure reported by the people who got sick. (Source)

June, 2023

Water Wisdom, the Itasca Waters' free online series continues featuring Trisha Robinson. She presents “Water-borne disease and symptoms: Can swimming make me sick?”. Robinson is an epidemiology supervisor of the Water Borne Disease Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health and oversees the routine surveillance activities, outbreak investigations and health promotion activities for all waterborne pathogens, including Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Legionella and free-living amoeba. (Source)

May 10, 2023

After two cases of Legionnaires' disease were contracted at Woodland Garden Apartments, the Minnesota Department of Health has issued a health advisory . The cases, which were diagnosed in October and December, are believed to have the same source of exposure. "Two cases of Legionella with a common apartment building is concerning as outbreaks in this setting are relatively rare," MDH said in its health advisory. (Source)

January 13, 2022

A Health Advisory for Legionnaires Disease was issued by the Minnesota Department of Health in the Duluth area and surrounding counties. Two confirmed cases of Legionnaire’s Disease were reported in Duluth at the Woodland Gardens Apartments, a Senior, low-income apartment building. One case happened in October, the other in December. (Source)

December 29, 2022

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported of being informed regarding two laboratory-confirmed Legionnaires’ disease cases with onsets in October 2022 and December 2022 connected with the Woodland Garden Apartments in Duluth. Two Legionella cases with a common apartment building is concerning as outbreaks in this setting are relatively rare. The disease carries high morbidity or mortality and this setting is a seniors-only apartment building, which increases the concern as advanced age is a major risk factor for Legionnaires’ disease. (Source)

2022

In June 2021, state health officials investigated Legionnaires’ cases linked to Albert Lea hotel and found at least two lab confirmed cases. The cause was linked to the hotel's spa.