DETROIT (WWJ) - Portions of the Patrick McNamara Federal building in downtown Detroit are closed until further notice after Legionella, the bacteria that commonly causes Legionnaires' disease, was detected this week.
WWJ's Charlie Langton said the bacteria was found in the water system of the west downtown office high rise, located between Howard and Second streets and Cass and Michigan avenues, back in August in a cooling tower on the roof of the building.
Officials further conducted testing at 120 sites inside the building, with several samples coming back positive for Legionella.
"Letters from the U.S. General Service Administration. which runs the building. show they also found elevated levels of copper and lead in some of the parts of the building," Langton added. "Those two combined and acting on other agents in the water can lead to legionella."
The GSA said the affected areas have been closed to the public with signs about the contamination posted. Officials are currently conducting additional testing, flushing and chlorinating.
The latest sample was taken on Friday, December 8th, officials said.
"The highest levels [were] found in a 21st floor women's bathroom and a basement holding cell," Langton reported.
The outbreaks can be severe, he said, sometimes even fatal.
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, Legionnaires disease is a serious pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria that is naturally found in freshwater environments, like lakes and streams.
However, the organism becomes a health hazard if it is allowed to grow and spread in human-made building water systems like:
• Showerheads and sink faucets
• Cooling towers (structures that contain water and a fan as part of centralized air cooling systems for buildings or industrial processes)
• Hot tubs
• Decorative fountains and water features
• Hot water tanks and heaters
• Large, complex plumbing systems
"After Legionella grows and multiplies in a building water system, water containing Legionella can spread in droplets small enough for people to breathe in," the CDC explained.
Less commonly, the disease can also be spread if someone drinking water accidently aspirates it into their lungs.
Legionella also causes a less serious flu-like illness called Pontiac fever, named after the Michigan city where the first case was recognized.
While most healthy people exposed to the bacteria don't get ill, the CDC says people at increased risk of getting sick are:
• People 50 years or older
• Current or former smokers
• People with a chronic lung disease (like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema)
• People with weak immune systems or who take drugs that weaken the immune system (like after a transplant operation or chemotherapy)
• People with cancer
• People with underlying illnesses such as diabetes, kidney failure, or liver failure
Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease is very similar to other types of pneumonia (lung infection) with patients developing a cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches and headaches typically within 2 to 14 days of exposure.
Patients can also come down with less common symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea and confusion.
"If you develop pneumonia symptoms, see a doctor right away," the CDC advised. "Legionnaires’ disease requires treatment with antibiotics and most cases of this illness can be treated successfully. Healthy people usually get better after being sick with Legionnaires’ disease, but they often need care in the hospital."
The McNamara building houses offices of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Army Corps of Engineers, Defense Contract Management Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD), Internal Revenue Service, Peace Corps, Railroad Retirement Board, Veteran Affairs (VA), The American Legion Department of Michigan and Social Security Administration.