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Workers began disinfecting the water at Stadium Place on Friday while officials wait to learn whether the apartment complex was the source of the Legionnaire's disease that has killed one elderly resident and sickened five others.
Specialists from Legionella Risk Management added chlorine dioxide, a chemical used in treatment systems, to the water supply at the senior facility on the former site of Memorial Stadium, and 10 two-person teams swept through individual apartments to flush out water pipes and raise the temperature on water heaters. Tim Keane, president of the Chalmont, Pa.-based firm, told a meeting of residents Friday that the steps would kill Legionella, a pneumonia-causing bacterium that is particularly dangerous for the elderly.
Officials still don't know whether the water supply at the 10-year-old complex was the source of the Legionella blamed in the death of an elderly woman this month. Health officials took more than 100 water samples from the site last weekend, but test results from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta are not expected until the end of next week.
"We're not waiting until the results come back," interim Baltimore Health Commissioner Olivia D. Farrow told residents. "We wanted to get started [on the disinfection] right away."
In the second such meeting since the outbreak was announced, Farrow and Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke sought to reassure residents that it was safe to remain in the complex and entertain visitors if they take precautions. Because the bacteria can be inhaled in water vapor, health officials have advised residents against taking showers or hand-washing dishes in hot water.
Farrow and Clarke stressed that Legionnaire's disease is not contracted by drinking contaminated water or transmitted from person to person.
Health care providers are required to report Legionella infections to authorities. Farrow said the city typically sees about 30 cases a year. She said none had been reported in the neighborhood surrounding Stadium Place, and neighbors were not believed to be at risk.
One resident asked if a mask could guard against inhaling the bacterium. When Keane said yes, the head of the nonprofit group that developed Stadium Place said it would buy and distribute masks to concerned residents.
Mitch Posner, executive director of Govans Ecumenical Development Corp., also said that residents who did not want to remain at the complex could end their lease and receive a refund of the security deposit. He said only one of the 360 residents had taken GEDCO up on the offer.
Wyndella McCray, a two-year resident who canceled her 70th birthday party because of the outbreak, called it a headache.
"At first I was very upset, because I didn't know how you could get it," she said. "Once I understood, I felt a little better about it. But I still want to know where it's coming from."
Specialists from Legionella Risk Management added chlorine dioxide, a chemical used in treatment systems, to the water supply at the senior facility on the former site of Memorial Stadium, and 10 two-person teams swept through individual apartments to flush out water pipes and raise the temperature on water heaters. Tim Keane, president of the Chalmont, Pa.-based firm, told a meeting of residents Friday that the steps would kill Legionella, a pneumonia-causing bacterium that is particularly dangerous for the elderly.
Officials still don't know whether the water supply at the 10-year-old complex was the source of the Legionella blamed in the death of an elderly woman this month. Health officials took more than 100 water samples from the site last weekend, but test results from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta are not expected until the end of next week.
"We're not waiting until the results come back," interim Baltimore Health Commissioner Olivia D. Farrow told residents. "We wanted to get started [on the disinfection] right away."
In the second such meeting since the outbreak was announced, Farrow and Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke sought to reassure residents that it was safe to remain in the complex and entertain visitors if they take precautions. Because the bacteria can be inhaled in water vapor, health officials have advised residents against taking showers or hand-washing dishes in hot water.
Farrow and Clarke stressed that Legionnaire's disease is not contracted by drinking contaminated water or transmitted from person to person.
Health care providers are required to report Legionella infections to authorities. Farrow said the city typically sees about 30 cases a year. She said none had been reported in the neighborhood surrounding Stadium Place, and neighbors were not believed to be at risk.
One resident asked if a mask could guard against inhaling the bacterium. When Keane said yes, the head of the nonprofit group that developed Stadium Place said it would buy and distribute masks to concerned residents.
Mitch Posner, executive director of Govans Ecumenical Development Corp., also said that residents who did not want to remain at the complex could end their lease and receive a refund of the security deposit. He said only one of the 360 residents had taken GEDCO up on the offer.
Wyndella McCray, a two-year resident who canceled her 70th birthday party because of the outbreak, called it a headache.
"At first I was very upset, because I didn't know how you could get it," she said. "Once I understood, I felt a little better about it. But I still want to know where it's coming from."
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