Case of Legionnaires’ disease at Allegheny County Department of Human Services office being investigated

PITTSBURGH — A case of Legionnaires’ disease at the Allegheny County Department of Human Services office is being investigated, a spokesperson for the county health department confirmed.

Ryan Scarpino, spokesperson for the Allegheny County Health Department, said they have been notified and are investigating.

The Department of Human Services is on Smithfield Street in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Scarpino provided the following statement:

"Typically, an investigation is done when there are two or more related cases to try to identify potential sources of the Legionella. As you may know, the disease doesn’t spread from person to person. Instead, the disease is contracted when a person breathes in small droplets of water in the air that contain the bacteria, or less commonly, by aspiration of drinking water - but, again, two or more related cases typically trigger a review.

In this case, after discussion with the department, we are going to investigate and test the water at the building in which the individual works to determine if it is a source. If so, we will recommend steps to be taken for proper maintenance of the building water systems. Again, this is being done out of an abundance of caution even though there has been only one report of the Legionnaires Disease."

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