Deadly Bacteria Found In NJ Hospital’s Water System: Report

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — A deadly bacteria has been discovered in the water system of a Passaic County hospital, a NJ.com report says.

A recent test on St. Joseph’s University Medical Center’s water system in Paterson found traces of Legionella, the bacteria responsible for the sometimes-fatal Legionnaires’ disease, the report said.

The testing came months after a St. Joseph’s patient, whose identity has not been released, tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease in July before dying, officials said.

“We have been working closely with state and local health officials after a patient was treated for multiple medical conditions and also tested positive for Legionella,” said Dr. Joseph Duffy, chief medical officer of St. Joseph’s. “Unfortunately, due to the complex nature of this individual’s medical condition, the patient succumbed to the illnesses.”

Now, St. Joseph’s is notifying 228 former patients who were treated in that area of the hospital between Nov. 27 and Dec. 8 about the risk of infection, according to the report.

It’s not clear at this time exactly which area of the hospital Legionella was found.

Legionnaires’ disease is spread through water and is not air-borne, though it can be spread through mist, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The disease can cause severe, sometimes life-threatening pneumonia, with symptoms typically setting in between two and 14 days after exposure. Symptoms can include cough, fever, headaches, muscle aches, shortness of breath, and sometimes vomiting and nausea.

The New Jersey Department of Health receives roughly 250-375 reports of Legionnaires’ disease each year.