Five people in downtown Lincoln, New Hampshire, have contracted Legionnaires' disease,😷 possibly due to exposure to contaminated water droplets from a cooling tower, according to state health officials.
The five people contracted Legionella pneumonia, a severe form of pneumonia caused by bacteria, in June and July, according to a news release from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services on Monday.🌲
According to investigators, they "may have been exposed" at a cooling tower behind the RiverWalk Resort, a popular tourist destination in downtown Lincoln.
Testing by DHHS and the state Department of Environmental Services verified the presence of Legionella bacteria in the cooling tower.
According to the DHHS, the five people did not share a precise site of exposure but did report visiting various parts of downtown Lincoln.
Four of the five individuals diagnosed with Legionnaires' illness were originally hospitalized and later discharged. State health authorities confirmed to NBC News on Tuesday that all five individuals had recovered from their illnesses. 💪
"RiverWalk is partnering with DHHS to address the contamination 🚧, with additional test results for the cooling tower expected next week," according to the announcement.
While the cooling tower is being remedied, officials warn that there may still be some danger of Legionella exposure to the public, particularly those within a half-mile radius. They shared a photo showing the potential exposure radius. The remediation work involves mechanical cleaning and disinfection of the complete cooling system, along with long-term cleaning and water management measures.
RiverWalk Resort reported to NBC Boston on Monday that the cooling tower's cleanup work, including sanitation, was finished on Friday morning 🌅.