Legionnaires' Disease Prevention Tips in New Hampshire

New Hampshire health officials are currently dealing with an outbreak of Legionnaires ' disease that might be linked to a Cooling tower located in downtown Lincoln . It was recently confirmed that Legionella bacteria was found in a cooling tower unit behind the Riverwalk Resort . Legionnaires ' disease is a specific type of pneumonia caused by this bacteria . Five individuals were diagnosed with the illness in June and July , and efforts are being made to determine if the cooling tower is the direct cause of their condition.

Cooling towers are typically used for air conditioning purposes to cool down the air by using water sources and fans to blow water into the air . The state is working closely with Riverwalk to address the contamination issue . Riverwalk has hired a company to thoroughly clean the tower , which is still operational . The cleaning process includes getting the tower up and running again and conducting retesting to ensure that the bacterial contamination has been eradicated . As a precaution , officials are advising people with chronic illnesses to assess their health risks before entering the affected area of Lincoln.

The affected area is approximately a half - mile radius around where the cooling tower is situated . Health officials are urging visitors to the Main Street area to evaluate their health risk due to potential exposure to Legionella bacteria . Individuals at higher risk for Legionnaires ' disease include the elderly , smokers , and those with weakened immune systems . Symptoms of the disease typically develop within 2 to 14 days after exposure and can include fever and cough.

The Department of Health and Human Services mentioned that there could be some continued risk of exposure to the public while the cooling tower is still in operation during the remediation process . They advised anyone visiting the area to monitor themselves for symptoms and seek medical attention if they experience fever or signs of pneumonia within 14 days of being in the vicinity . Legionella bacteria are environmental bacteria that can infect individuals who inhale contaminated water droplets from various sources such as cooling towers , showers , and hot tubs.

Efforts are ongoing to address the Legionnaires ' disease outbreak in downtown Lincoln . Riverwalk has taken immediate action by sanitizing the cooling tower and conducting additional testing to ensure the safety of the public . Health officials are closely monitoring the situation and working to prevent further cases of the illness . It is crucial for individuals to be vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect themselves from potential exposure to Legionella bacteria.