CDES Team Publishes Article About New Legionella Sources Linked with 2022 Outbreak in CDC Journal

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Hani Mohamed, an epidemiologist with the Communicable Disease and Epidemiology Section, recently authored and published a paper in the CDC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal about an investigation and intervention in a unique Legionella outbreak that occurred in Richland County in 2022. Dr. Linda Bell was listed as the senior author, and contributing authors were Rebecca Whisenhunt, Victoria Greer, and Dr. Abdoulaye Diedhiou. 

There were several factors that made the scope, severity, and source of this particular outbreak unique, including that it appears to be the largest Legionella outbreak linked to an industrial facility in the United States. Thanks to their collaboration and swift action, Hani and regional staff Victoria Greer and Rebecca Whisenhunt helped to prevent additional cases by identifying potential exposure sources and working with the facility to discontinue the suspected sources use. 

Of the 34 identified cases of legionellosis, almost half of these resulted in hospitalizations and a small number of individuals were reported to have died from their infection. This also appears to be the first time that Legionella bacteria has been documented as being associated with the implicated equipment sources: water jet cutters and floor scrubbers. 

Following this investigation, the team was able to share this important new discovery and guidance in the article: “Evolving technology and the development of new devices that can aerosolize water present a risk for new sources of Legionella bacteria growth and spread within industrial settings...Manufacturing facilities that use aerosol-generating devices should consider maintaining updated Legionella water management programs to prevent Legionella bacterial infections.”

Due to the unique and novel nature of this outbreak, the team’s article has already attracted media attention from Infectious Disease Special Edition, The Post and Courier, and The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint.

Thank you to Hani, Victoria, and Rebecca for the swift action taken to identify the unique causes of this outbreak and share this new discovery with the public health sphere and beyond.