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Contact: Susanne McDonald, Superintendent, (830) 868-7128 ext 222
STONEWALL, TX – This week, the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park received results of environmental water tests that were positive for Legionella bacteria at three sites: the pool house, the Klein shop, and the hangar visitor center. While there have been no confirmed cases of illness associated with this at the park, Legionella can cause a severe pneumonia (called Legionnaires’ disease) when people breathe in aerosolized droplets of water that contain the bacteria.
Park staff with expertise in water operations are working with National Park Service Office of Public Health (OPH), and in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to take immediate steps to address this finding. An environmental assessment of the entire water system is already underway. We know that Legionella bacteria exist in the environment, and the OPH considers the risk of Legionnaires’ disease in the park to be low.
Most people exposed to Legionella will not get sick; however, it can cause severe illness in some. Legionnaires’ disease can be treated with antibiotics. Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease usually begin 2-14 days after exposure and can include cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, headaches, and fever. Additional symptoms may be present, such as headache, confusion, nausea, or diarrhea. People who are at increased risk of getting sick include people 50 years or older, smokers, and those with chronic lung disease, weakened immune systems, or underlying illnesses such as diabetes, kidney failure, or liver failure. If you develop any of these symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease or have experienced any within the last two weeks, you should seek medical attention. Please let your doctor know so that he/she can test you for Legionnaires’ disease. Ask your doctor to test you with both a urine test and a respiratory culture. If you test positive, please inform park leadership as soon as possible.
We will continue to work closely with the OPH and the CDC to protect the health of those who visit or work and live in the park. A fact sheet about Legionnaires’ disease is attached to this press release. You can also learn more about Legionnaires’ disease at https://www.cdc.gov/legionella/index.html.
-NPS-
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at http://www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
Last updated: October 18, 2018