Sherbrooke hospital decontaminates after legionnaires' case

Public health officials in Sherbrooke, Que. say they're doing everything necessary to make sure legionnaires' diseasedoes notspread beyond a single case.

A patient who is being treated for cancer was infected by the dangerous bacteria at a hospital affiliated with theSherbrooke University Health Centre.

Public health officials say they believe thepatient diagnosed with legionnaires' disease was contaminated bythe bacteria in her bathroom inthe Fleurimont Hospital's oncology wing.

Officials believe the bacteria could have come from the hospital's hot-water system.

• Legionnaire's case reported at Sherbrooke hospital

Yesterday,hospital staff tested the entire wing for traces of the bacteriaand flushed the plumbing system withhot water.

Public health officials say so far,there is no evidence that the disease has spread.

If the bacteria was in the system for several monthsit ispossible other people caught the disease, and we just didn't make a good diagnosis previously. So we're going tolook back in the patient files to examine any cases of pneumonia that were acquired in hospital, saidMlissa Gnreux, director of public health for the Eastern Townships.

Legionnaires' disease is spread through water droplets, not through direct human contact.

Symptoms are similar to pneumonia,causing ahigh fever, chills, cough, fatigue, muscle pain and loss of appetite.

However, a laboratory testisneeded to diagnose the disease.

More than 100 people contracted the disease, and 13 people died during a 2012 outbreak in Quebec City.

Hospital officials in Sherbrooke say the patient who has legionnaires'diseaseis in intensive care and in stable condition.