After not reporting any additional Legionnaires’ disease cases in some 12 days at The University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC), hospital officials reported a fifth patient who has tested positive for Legionella. The patient is a woman in her fifties who is not a resident of Washington State. She remains hospitalized and is currently in satisfactory condition.
This patient was hospitalized in the UWMC’s Cascade Tower before the Legionella outbreak was recognized and precautions were put in place at UWMC. She was discharged before the identification of the outbreak and then readmitted almost two weeks later, after the precautions were in place. Her symptoms of Legionella infection developed after her readmission.
It is not possible to determine exactly where or when she contracted the bacterium.
In addition, Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue, Washington has reported a Legionnaires’ disease case in a male in his 60s with a medical condition that puts him at increased risk to infection. His health condition is reportedly improving.
Overlake officials have determined that the patient’s exposure to Legionella was at the hospital.
Public Health – Seattle & King County does not believe there is any link between the Legionella case at Overlake and the recent Legionella cases at the University of Washington Medical Center.
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