Legionnaires’ Disease in Quebec City Has Been Contained

According to CTV News, the Legionnaires’ outbreak in Quebec City has been contained as there have been no new reported cases since August 29th. To date, the outbreak totals 13 fatal cases and 177 illnesses.

An ongoing investigation is expected to confirm the source of the outbreak by mid-October. Although it is officially undetermined, many public health authorities believe the source is a water cooling tower in the city.  In response, 100 cooling towers have been cleaned.

Legionnaires’ disease is caused by Legionella, a deadly bacterium that grows in the biofilm of various warm water sources. Past sources of Legionella outbreaks have been water cooling towers, hot tubs, faucets, and showerheads.

Legionnaires’ disease does not spread from person to person; in order for an individual to contract it, one must inhale mist or vapor from a water supply that is contaminated with Legionella bacteria.

“Legionnaires’ disease is a severe flu-like infection, and children, the elderly, and individuals in poor health are more susceptible to developing a severe infection,” states Diane Miskowski, MPH, Business Development Manager at EMSL Analytical, a leading Legionella testing lab. “Six of EMSL Analytical’s locations, including Mississauga, ON, offer advanced Legionella testing with rapid results if needed.”
For more information about EMSL’s food testing division, please contact EMSL at 800-220-3675, info@EMSL.com , or www.legionellatesting.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a full service testing company providing quality lab services under the same private ownership since 1981. Including the corporate lab facility in Cinnaminson, NJ, EMSL Analytical operates over thirty laboratories nationwide in the US and Canada. We provide analytical services for environmental, indoor air quality (IAQ), industrial hygiene, forensics and materials science, consumer products, food safety, PCR, pharmaceutical, asbestos, lead, and radiological samples. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations, as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical

(1) 1-800-220-3675

jfrasca@emsl.com