In a follow-up on the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak linked to Anaheim, CA and Disneyland, the Orange County Health Care Agency is reporting an additional three cases bringing the total number to 15, according to an OC Register report.
Eleven out of the 15 cases involve people who visited Disneyland in September including one who worked there. Health officials said two of the three new cases involved individuals who visited Disneyland.
The victims were infected between late August and October, officials said. Two patients have died, though neither of them visited Disneyland.
The LA Times reported last week that Disneyland shut down two cooling towers that were found to have elevated levels of Legionella bacteria. The towers are in a backstage area near the New Orleans Square Train Station, each more than 100 feet from areas accessible to guests, according to Disneyland officials.
The county’s Health Officer, Dr. Eric Handler, issued an order Nov. 8 requiring Disney to take the towers out of service until the park can ensure that they are free of contamination.
Jessica Good, a spokeswoman for the Health Care Agency confirmed, Wednesday, that Disney provided updated test results to the agency showing that there was no bacteria in the cooling towers after the water in them was sanitized Nov. 4.
In a statement to The Times, Dr. Pamela Hymel, chief medical officer for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said health officials had informed them “there is no longer any known risk associated with our facilities.”
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