JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
A Brooke Army Medical Center staff member who works in Building 15 was confirmed to have Legionella bacteria, Feb 6. The health and safety of our patients and staff is BAMC's top priority, and the staff are working diligently with local and regional public health officials to investigate this matter.
This case follows the two cases that were reported in August. Because there were two or more cases associated with the same facility (in this case Building 15) or other common location within 365 days, this is considered an outbreak per the Emerging and Acute Infectious Disease Guidelines.
BAMC officials are not currently aware of any patients or clients who have moved through Building 15 who are exhibiting symptoms.
The safety of the staff and patients is BAMC's utmost concern. Testing is ongoing to determine if the building is the source of the bacteria. No source for the Legionella has been identified at BAMC to date. Out of an abundance of caution, BAMC is relocating staff members who work in that facility to another location.
As a reminder, the bacteria can cause symptoms ranging from a flu-like illness to a type of pneumonia called Legionnaires' disease. The bacteria are not spread from one person to another. It is transmitted by breathing in a mist or vapor (small droplets of water in the air) that contains the bacteria. According to the CDC, there is a low risk of Legionnaires' disease for most healthy people.
Those experiencing symptoms (upper respiratory or flu-like) should contact their medical provider.
For more information on Legionella, visit https://www.cdc.gov/legionella/index.html