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VIDEO: First legionellosis outbreak in New Hampshire in more than 50 years
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ATLANTA — In this video, Kara Levinson, PhD, MPH, a Laboratory Leadership Service fellow at the CDC, discusses a large legionellosis outbreak that occurred in New Hampshire in August 2018, infecting 34 people and killing two.
“This was the first legionellosis outbreak we had in the state in more than 50 years,” Levinson said.
The outbreak was eventually linked to a hotel hot tub. Obtaining respiratory specimens was crucial during the investigation, Levinson said.
“If you have someone you suspect might have Legionnaires’ disease, or Pontiac fever, it’s really critical to get a respiratory specimen and send it to your laboratory,” she said. “We relied heavily on the laboratory every step of the way.”
Disclosure: Levinson reports no relevant financial disclosures.