Legionella in Six Buildings Shuts Down a Detroit University's Residence Tower

Wayne State University is aware that an employee who works in the Faculty Administration Building has been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease. We are taking immediate steps to investigate the source of the bacteria that may have caused the illness. As a precautionary measure, one of the rooftop air-handling units that brings air into the FAB has been shut down and cleaned, and all cooling towers at the FAB are being sampled for Legionella. The health and safety of our campus community is our priority.

Wayne State University has received preliminary results from environmental water sampling conducted across campus. Legionella bacteria were identified in cooling towers at the Towers Residence Suites, Purdy/Kresge Library, and the College of Education Building, as well as in bathroom fixtures in the Faculty Administration Building, Scott Hall, and the Cohn Building. Remediation of the three cooling towers has begun using the prescribed disinfection process. The affected bathrooms are closed pending further evaluation. The Detroit Health Department and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have been alerted. We will provide further updates as remediation progresses.

Wayne State University is providing an update on Legionella remediation. PathCon Laboratories, our outside remediation experts, has retested all campus cooling towers. With the exception of the Towers Residence Suites, all other cooling towers show extremely low or non-detectable levels of Legionella. Because of the elevated levels found at the Towers, the university has decided to replace the rooftop cooling tower entirely. This work will require several more weeks before the building can be reoccupied. Two contractors working on the Anthony Wayne Drive Apartments have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease. We continue to cooperate fully with public health authorities.