Legionella bacteria found in 3 Baltimore City courthouses

Todd Karpovich, The Baltimore Sun on Dec 20, 2024

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BALTIMORE — Traces of Legionella were discovered in three courthouses in Baltimore City, the latest in a series of downtown public facilities where the bacteria has been detected.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott’s office reported that precautionary testing at the Baltimore City District (People’s) Courthouse, the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Courthouse and Elijah E. Cummings Courthouse showed elevated levels of Legionella bacteria this month.

Due to the elevated levels of bacteria, Baltimore City has recommended the immediate closure of those facilities to conduct cleaning, system maintenance and other mitigation efforts to deal with the Legionella bacteria.

“The recommended closure is not related to a public health or safety concern,” the mayor’s office said in a press release. “While the Maryland Department of Health does not require closure, the City is making this recommendation out of an abundance of caution. District Judge leadership and the Court Administrator responsible for operating the impacted courthouses will make the ultimate decision regarding closure.”

The Baltimore City Health Department has not received any reports of confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease. One individual has experienced symptoms and sought testing for potential impact associated with Legionella bacteria.

“The Health Department will continue to monitor for relevant reports and work in coordination with the Maryland Department of Health to address any concerns as they arise,” the mayor’s office said.

Legionella is the bacteria responsible for causing Legionnaires’ disease, “a type of severe pneumonia,” according to the CDC. Infection can occur when people “breathe in mist” with Legionella bacteria in it, its website says. One in 10 people who get Legionnaires’ disease die, the CDC states.

On Dec. 6, the Maryland Department of General Services discovered Legionella bacteria in two Baltimore district courts.

In addition, four office buildings in the State Center office complex downtown were found to have the bacteria since DGS began regular testing in mid-October, according to DGS spokesman Eric Solomon.

The State Center office complex, which houses agencies including the Maryland Department of Health and the Department of General Services, tested positive for higher-than-normal levels of Legionella bacteria for the second time since the bacteria was discovered in November.

The Cummings MECU building was also tested on Dec. 12, and results showed “extremely low levels” of Legionella. As a result, the building did not receive a closure recommendation.

Precautionary testing is also being conducted at other major downtown city government facilities. The Abel Wolman building on Holliday Street was tested on Dec. 12, and results are expected on or before Dec. 29. Tests were done at the Benton Building on East Fayette Street and City Hall on Wednesday. The results of those tests are expected by Jan. 5.

“The safety and well-being of our staff, the public, and everyone who relies on the services of the Circuit Court must always be our top priority,” Clerk of the Circuit Court Xavier Conaway said in a statement. “While the decision to close the affected courthouses lies outside the authority of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, I strongly support the closure of the Elijah E. Cummings and Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Courthouses on Friday … to begin immediate remediation of the water systems. Swift and decisive action is the only acceptable response to these findings.”

While there is no requirement for a public water system to test for Legionella, the Department of Public Works has been conducting tests on the level of chlorine in the system in the impacted areas for the past several weeks to entirely rule out concern about the city’s system. The chlorine levels signify whether Legionella can grow.

“So far, the chlorine residual levels in the surrounding areas have been tested and are sufficient,” the city said in a statement.

Baltimore Sun reporter Racquel Bazos contributed to this article.

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