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Legionella bacteria was discovered in the facility’s water supply after a death involving Legionnaires’ disease at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center prompted an investigation.
Hundreds of patients have been warned to monitor for symptoms of this life-threatening illness as hospital administrators and health authorities search for answers.
What is Legionnaires’ disease? How is it spread? How could Legionella bacteria get into the water supply? What should you do if you begin experiencing symptoms?
Here’s what we know so far about Legionnaires’ disease at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center!
At least one person has become sick with Legionnaires’ disease from exposure linked to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center. It is unclear how many other patients may be impacted by this illness. However, reports indicate that this initial patient has died from the “complex nature” of the individual’s medical condition.
The deceased patient was treated at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey in July for “multiple medical conditions.”
While being treated, the patient was also tested for Legionella bacteria. The results indicated the patient had Legionnaires’ disease.
Following the patient’s death, the New Jersey Department of Health inspected the facility’s water system. On November 18, state testing results revealed the presence of Legionella bacteria in a contained area of the hospital. However, the specific area of the hospital where the bacteria was found has not been made public.
The New Jersey Department of Health notified St. Joseph’s University Medical Center of the results on December 8, 2025.
After receiving the news, the facility began cleaning and treating their water system. However, hospital officials claim there is minimal risk of contracting the disease from the water supply.
So, what exactly is Legionnaires’ disease and how do you get it?
Legionnaires’ disease is caused by a type of waterborne bacteria called Legionella. It causes a type of pneumonia-like illness that is often overlooked but easily treated if properly diagnosed.
These microorganisms typically live in natural water environments like lakes, streams, and rivers.
Not something you typically find on a hospital campus. So how do they spread there?
In a natural environment, infection is rare. The problem comes when these bacteria make their way into man-made water systems.
This can happen in a number of different ways.
Sometimes bacteria are picked up with evaporating water and carried by rain clouds. They may be later deposited near cooling towers on tops of buildings. Nearby buildings with infected cooling towers can also spread the germ from one water system to another.
They can also be deposited in reservoirs of water treatment facilities, where small amounts of the bacteria are piped to homes and businesses.
A small number of bacteria often goes unnoticed. However, certain contributing factors can allow the bacteria to grow into infectious quantities (such as construction, dead legs, and stagnant water). This, paired with routes of dissemination, can become a major problem.
These routes of dissemination involve key characteristics for how Legionnaires’ disease spreads. Fortunately, none of which involves person-to-person contact.
Legionnaires’ disease is not contagious.
So then, how do you get sick?
Legionnaires’ disease is caused by inhaling microscopic Legionella bacteria. This often happens when these bacteria contaminate a water supply and become suspended in aerosolized water droplets. Something like water mist.
Inhaling this mist can move these waterborne bacteria into your lungs where they can cause infection.
While this bacterium is naturally occurring in freshwater environments (lakes, streams, etc.), they can also grow in human-made water systems. In fact, that is how most Legionnaires’ disease infections take place.
Certain human-made water systems are better suited for growing and spreading harmful Legionella bacteria. But anything that generates a mist or spray can spread bacteria.
Common sources of Legionnaires’ disease include:
In addition to cooling towers and hot water tanks, some of the more uncommon sources can be found in hospitals. Ventilators, humidifiers, and other breathing devices.
It is unclear what potential source contributed to the death of the patient with Legionnaires’ disease at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center. However, the hospital setting makes the illness even more dangerous.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 20 people exposed to Legionella bacteria will become sick.
An unfortunate 1 in 10 will die. In a health care setting like the current example of Legionnaires’ disease at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, the risk elevates to 1 in 4.
There are several reasons for this.
First, people being hospitalized are often very sick. A decreased immune system leaves the body more susceptible to any number of illnesses. Including Legionnaires’ disease.
Additionally, breathing equipment can introduce harmful airborne germs directly into the lungs. Aerosolized water from a handwash sink in the room can send Legionella bacteria straight into the breathing systems. Giving the germs a perfect pathway into the lungs.
Not everyone who is exposed to Legionella bacteria will become sick. Most normally healthy individuals will not become infected. However, certain groups of people are at higher risk of infection if exposed.
Higher risk groups include:
People who stayed at, visited, or worked at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, especially those in these higher risk groups, should monitor themselves for symptoms.
St. Joseph’s Health System is in the process of notifying 228 of their former patients who were treated in the area of the hospital with Legionella bacteria detected in the water supply during a specific date range of their exposure risk.
The hospital indicates that date range includes those treated between November 27, 2025 and December 8, 2025.
Only specialized laboratory tests can accurately diagnose Legionnaires’ disease, as symptoms often overlap with other conditions. For this reason, Legionnaires’ disease is often confused with other pneumonia-like illnesses. It is even indistinguishable from typical pneumonia on a chest x-ray.
Urine antigen tests and PCR tests for sputum samples can accurately diagnose Legionnaires’ disease.
If you have stayed, worked, or have visited St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, there are a few symptoms to look out for.
While severity of symptoms can vary from person to person, common symptoms include:
Other Symptoms may include:
Most people begin feeling sick between two and 14 days after exposure. However, it can take longer for symptoms to appear in some cases.
If you were treated at, visited, or worked at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center and begin experiencing symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, seek medical attention right away. Notify your health care provider of your recent exposure to expedite specific laboratory tests necessary for connecting your illness to others involved in the potential Legionnaires’ disease outbreak.
It is also a good idea to get advice from an experienced Legionnaires’ disease Lawyer. A Legionnaires’ disease lawyer can advocate for you, gather important documents, and represent you in court if needed. Medical bills and other burdens associated with Legionnaires’ disease add up. Get the help you need from an expert you can trust.
Legionnaires’ disease is a preventable illness. This type of illness spreads when lapses in required maintenance allow the growth of this harmful microorganism.
If you wish to pursue a legal claim for financial compensation to cover medical expenses, lost work, caring for a loved one, or other burdens associated with Legionnaires’ disease illness, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a Legionnaires’ disease lawyer that can help.
Call (833) 330-3663 or send us an email for a free, no obligation consultation. A member of our compassionate team will go over the details of your case.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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