3 Patients Dead, 14 Diagnosed In Legionnaires’ Outbreak At UW Health

Health officials say three patients who contracted Legionnaires’ disease after an outbreak of the disease at U-W Health have died, and the hospital has confirmed a total of 14 cases during the outbreak. Hospital officials say the three patients who died all had serious, life-limiting health conditions. U-W Health officials say 10 patients who contracted the disease have been discharged and are doing well. U-W Health announced in late November there were multiple cases of Legionnaires’, a type of pneumonia caused by the legionella bacteria, and it linked the outbreak to a change in its hot-water system. Officials say the hospital flushed the system with high levels of chlorine to eliminate the bacteria. A week later, the hospital discovered the outbreak had affected 11 patients. Hospital officials said Monday the strain of bacteria in the new cases of Legionnaires’ matched the bacteria in the water system but that the hyperchlorination has been effective. The hospital said it is working with the C-D-C to review and analyze its work in responding to the issue.