Legionnaires' disease reported at Montgomery County State Prison

Two inmates at the State Correctional Institution-Phoenix in Montgomery County tested positive for Legionnaires' disease this week, a state prison spokesman confirmed Friday.

“The first positive test was received on Monday. All inmates and staff have been notified to report any symptoms consistent with Legionella,” Maria Bivens, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, said in an email.

“The facility is conducting testing for possible sources of the Legionella bacteria,” Bivens said, adding that the corrections department is working with the Montgomery County Health Department “to proactively eliminate the most common sources of the bacteria.”

Bivens said the two occupants were receiving medical treatment and were in stable condition.

Legionnaires' disease is a form of pneumonia and is not transmitted from person to person. Infection occurs by inhaling small water droplets that contain Legionella bacteria.

Bivens said the agency hired a Legionella specialist last year to develop a water management plan to improve prevention and remediation in all state prisons.

SCI Phoenix officials have conducted a high-temperature flush of all water systems in the housing units and are conducting ongoing testing and “proactive remediation measures” in all areas of the prison, Bivens said.

Prison officials are also restricting shower use until the high-temperature flush is complete, Bivens said.

Megan Alt, a spokeswoman for the Montgomery County government, said the county's Department of Health and Human Services was notified this week that there were positive or presumptive diagnoses of Legionnaires' disease at SCI Phoenix.

Montgomery County Health Department officials met with staff to make short-term recommendations for a safe water supply for the prison, such as bottled water and filters, Alt said.

County officials also made recommendations for sampling, testing and treatment to combat the source of the bacteria, Alt said.

Last year, an inmate at a Pennsylvania state prison near State College was diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease.

Philadelphia is known for Legionnaires' disease. In 1976, participants at an American Legion convention fell ill and 34 people died.