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The University of Windsor has not heard any reports of diseases related to the discovery of Legionella in the hot water systems of three of its buildings, a spokesman said Thursday.
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04/13/2017 • April 14, 2017 • Read for 2 minutes 
This undated picture, courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shows a large group of Legionella pneumophila (Legionnaires’ disease) bacteria. Photo by Janice Haney Carr /THE CANADIAN PRESS
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The University of Windsor has not heard any reports of diseases related to the discovery of Legionella in the hot water systems of three of its buildings, a spokesman said Thursday.
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The bacterium that can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a serious lung infection, was discovered this week during preventative maintenance on the hot water and cooling tower systems at Chrysler Hall Tower, Dillon Hall and Assumption Hall.
The hot water was then turned off on Wednesday, spokesman John Coleman said, explaining that the shutdown will affect these three buildings as well as nine other buildings on campus.
The university received additional information later Thursday confirming the Laurier Hall, Law Building (Law School), Leddy Library (West Wing and Main), Education Building (including Mare Nostrum Restaurant), Biology Building, the Lambton Tower, Erie Hall, Essex Hall and Odette School of Business are also affected.
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He said staff, faculty and students had all been notified. The system is flushed and tested while experts try to isolate the cause and remove risks. The university is waiting for test results at the other buildings and will publish them on arrival.
“We just hope this gets resolved pretty quickly,” Coleman said hopefully by next week. He said he did not know what caused the bacteria to appear.
Coleman said that there is only one building, Laurier Hall, which is a dormitory where students cannot have hot showers. He said that alternative locations such as the St. Denis Center will be made available for people who need showers. In addition, additional disinfectants are provided in the washrooms for people who want to wash their hands with cold water.
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Dr. Wajid Ahmed, the area’s assistant health officer, said the health department has no record of anyone on site who currently has legionnaires or a less severe flu-like illness also caused by Legionella called Pontiac fever. Health officials have been briefed on the situation at the university. Ahmed said the school was doing whatever it was supposed to do.
In general, legionaries are not so dangerous for young people. But it can be quite dangerous in older populations, where the death rate is quite high.
“Finding Legionella just in the water system doesn’t usually mean much,” Ahmed said, explaining that it causes Legionnaires’ disease when water containing the bacteria is aerosolized – meaning small water droplets are dispersed through the air – and inhaled become a person’s lungs. This can happen in showers, hot tubs, and cooling towers in large buildings.
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With the system already shut down and mitigation measures underway, the threat appears to be gone, he said.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Legionnaires’ disease has symptoms similar to other forms of pneumonia, including cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle pain, and headache. The CDC says antibiotics and hospitalization are usually required, and one in 10 people given legionnaires dies.
Legionella are a common organism that occurs naturally in the environment. It can become a problem as it grows and spreads in man-made water systems.
Ahmed said he was curious about how the university’s hot water system came about, as water temperatures above 60 ° C reduce the likelihood of the bacteria surviving.
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