Virgin Islands Department of Health Confirms Multiple Cases of Legionnaires’ Disease
Last month, the United States Virgin Islands Department of Health announced that cases of Legionnaires’ disease had been detected in both St. Thomas and St. Croix. People can develop this disease by breathing in a mist or water droplets contaminated with a type of bacteria known as Legionella. Tragically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 1 in 10 people who get Legionnaires’ disease will die from the infection.
The bacteria are found naturally in the environment, usually in water. Legionella grows best in warm water, like the kind found in hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, decorative fountains and some plumbing systems.
For many who develop Legionnaires' disease, the symptoms are often similar to many other forms of pneumonia. Signs of the disease can include fever, chills and a cough. Some people may also suffer from muscle aches and headaches. A milder infection caused by the same type of bacteria is known as Pontiac fever. Symptoms of Pontiac fever usually last for 2 to 5 days and may also include fever, headaches and muscle aches; however, there is no pneumonia.
“Many people all across the Caribbean rely on cisterns for water,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “The bacteria can also grow and multiply in cisterns that aren’t properly maintained. As suggested by the V.I. Health Department, it is important to make sure to clean and disinfect cisterns regularly in addition to performing regular cleaning and maintenance on shower heads, hot tubs, tank water heaters and any other water tanks used to store potable water.”
Providing resources to identify exposure risks to Legionella in the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and throughout the Caribbean are the experts at Zimmetry Environmental. They offer comprehensive Legionella testing and consulting services that are a vital part of a proactive plan to prevent new cases of this deadly disease. Several years ago, Zimmetry even sponsored an educational video about Legionella and monitoring building water systems that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/F_Ggg_uaL_s
To learn more about Zimmetry’s water, air, environmental, occupational, and compliance testing and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com.
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.