Cause of Legionnaire's Disease outbreak at hospital traced

The cause of an outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease at St. Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport, CT, has been traced to the hospital's hot water system after months of testing and decontamination efforts. A total of 28 patients were diagnosed with the disease between January and October 1994, with most of the cases occurring in June and July. Legionnaire's Disease is a kind of pneumonia caused by bacteria that thrive in warm water and can become airborne on tiny water droplets that, if inhaled, spread the disease.