South Dakota officials saw an doubling of Legionnaires’ disease cases in 2018 compared to 2017, reporting 33 cases statewide.

Legionella bacteria Image/CDC
Legionella bacteria
Image/CDC

This included an increase in the Sioux Falls area, in which 16 people became ill and one died.

This prompted the Department of Health to host an upcoming workshop for cooling tower owners, operators, installers, and water treatment consultants on the proper operation and maintenance of cooling towers to prevent cases of Legionnaires disease.

The presenter for the training will be Chris Boyd, general manager of NSF International and former Assistant Commissioner of Environmental Sciences and Engineering for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. During his time in New York City, he led the agency’s response to the largest Legionella outbreak in the city’s history.

The training will be held Wednesday, April 10th at the Sioux Falls Health Department, 521 North Main Avenue. Registration is free. To register for the training visit: doh.sd.gov/news/legionnaires.

Legionella Conference 2018: Approaches for successfully preventing the spread of Legionella in buildings, hospitals and other at-risk facilities

Participants in the workshop will learn about the risks associated with cooling towers and Legionnaires disease, what owners can expect from their water treatment consultant, and best practice protocols for preseason startup.

Related: