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Decades-Old Lung Disease Makes Comeback in East Bay Potentially fatal infection can cause pneumonia

Updated 7:28 AM PDT, Wed, Nov 19, 2008

Related Topics: Janice Stogner-Smith

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lung CT scan
Justin Sullivan/Getty

Each year, between 8,000 and 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaires' disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

 

Contra Costa County health leaders hope to find out later this week whether the Richmond Health Center is the source of a rare bacterial infection.

Infamous Bacteria Resurfaces In Bay Area

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The search is on for a source of an East Bay nurse's rare diagnosis of a disease that killed 29 people in one outbreak 40 years ago.

Janice Stogner-Smith was diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease a few weeks ago. She is a nurse the center.

Legionnaires'is a potentially deadly infection that can cause pneumonia.

Stogner-Smith believes she may have been infected from water dripping from the ceiling.

Health officials say air tests have come back negative and the results of the water quality test should be in by the end of the week.

Legionnaires' disease is named so because in 1976 many delegates attending a convention in Philadelphia held by the American Legion of Pennsylvania came down with a respiratory disease. The bacteria bacteria that was responsible for the disease was isolated and named as Legionella pneumophila.

Each year, between 8,000 and 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaires' disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

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  • Kate Wednesday, Nov 19 at 5:04 PM FLAG COMMENT Janice: I am so, so sad to hear you have been so ill. I know it's no consolation, but maybe your illness will get the HVAC fixed and you will have protected many people. You're in my thoughts and prayers. Kate

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