WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - Saint Elizabeths Hospital in Southeast D.C. has confirmed that potentially deadly bacteria remain in the water following tests weeks after the legionella bacteria was initially confirmed.
On Thursday, Deputy Mayor Wayne Turnage released the following statement on the water outage exclusively to FOX 5's Lindsay Watts:
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The city confirmed legionella and pseudomonas bacteria were found in the water at the city-owned psychiatric hospital that cares for mentally ill criminals during testing on Sept. 18 that was confirmed on Sept. 26.
Legionella bacteria can cause Legionnaires disease, a type of pneumonia that can be deadly. Most recover from the illness, but older people and those with compromised immune systems are especially at risk.
Saint Elizabeths brought in thousands of gallons of bottled water as well as portable showers for its 273 patients and 700 employees.