GROVE CITY – Health officials say 15 people have now been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease amid an outbreak at Mount Carmel Grove City.
That is up from 13 last week. The patients are eight women and seven men, Franklin County’s health department said Monday.
Mount Carmel Health System says the hospital is working with health officials to identify the source of the bacteria and is taking precautions to prevent further spread and making changes to its water system to prevent any future outbreaks.
County health officials say Mount Carmel is flushing and disinfecting all hot and cold water lines and fixtures throughout seven-story, 200-bed facility, passing out bottled water to patients and staff, testing and cleaning ice machines, making sure cooling towers are cleaned and serviced.
The hospital is also testing its water sources and providing the results and a water management plan to the Ohio Department of Health.
State health officials say the first patient diagnosed with Legionnaires’ was admitted to the hospital on April 29, the day after it opened.
Hospital officials say anyone who was a patient at Mount Carmel Grove City and has developed a cough, muscle aches, headaches, fever or shortness of breath should contact their doctor.
The Mount Carmel system has been under scrutiny after discovering a doctor had prescribed excessive doses of painkillers to patients who died at its other hospitals.
Dr. William Husel not guilty Wednesday after being charged with 25 counts of murder.