State Health Investigation Links Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak to Municipal Water Supply

Recently, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced that both epidemiologic and laboratory data point to areas of a municipal water system as the source of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in a northeastern Minnesota city that began in April of 2023. So far, a total of 14 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been identified as part of the outbreak.

According to the MDH news release:

Since the first cases of Legionnaires’ disease were reported, MDH has been investigating the source of the outbreak. MDH determined the municipal water supply was the only common exposure reported by the people who got sick. Water samples from two buildings in the community subsequently tested positive for Legionella and the Legionella bacteria from the two buildings were highly related to each other and to the Legionella bacteria from patient respiratory samples. This provided additional evidence pointing to the municipal water supply as the source.

“In this case, there are plans to flush and disinfect parts of the municipal water system,” said Jason Dobranic, Ph.D., Vice President of Microbiology and Life Sciences at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “MDH is also advising building owners to follow best practices for maintaining a healthy building water system and they are encouraged to develop and implement a water management program. Proactive measures to test manmade water systems, as part of a water management program to detect Legionella exposure risks, can be an important step in preventing illnesses, outbreaks and fatalities. If an outbreak has already occurred, rapid test methods can be instrumental for identifying the source of the bacteria to prevent others from becoming infected.”

With a laboratory in Minnesota, and dozens more across North America, EMSL Analytical supports water management programs by offering traditional culturing methods, and rapid PCR and Whole Genome Sequencing methods, to identify environmental sources of Legionella. A number of EMSL’s laboratories have received the CDC’s Certificate of Proficiency from its Elite Program for Legionella testing and some are also NYSDOH ELAP Legionella certified.

To learn more about Legionella testing or to request sampling supplies, please visit www.LegionellaTesting.com or www.EMSL.com, email info@EMSL.com or call (800) 220-3675.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOCs, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail