Aurora Health Care Shuts Off Waterfalls Due To Legionnaire's Outbreak

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WTAQ) - Aurora Health Care has turned off its decorative waterfalls at 6 hospitals in Wisconsin, after one of them caused 8 people to get Legionnaire’s disease. The waterwall at Saint Luke’s South Shore Hospital in Cudahy was identified Wednesday as the source of the bacteria that made the 8 people sick over the last month. 2 were still hospitalized Wednesday, but chief medical officer Bruce Van Cleave said they were getting better. The Cudahy waterwall was drained and cleaned every month.

Despite that, state health officer Seth Foldy said the water that goes airborne has the risk of infecting the lungs of people with weaker immune systems. And he encouraged hospitals throughout the state to turn off their decorative waterfalls and fountains for good. About 4,000 people were contacted after the Cudahy outbreak. Foldy says there have not been any new cases – but he wouldn’t be surprised to see at least a few more.