Pendleton state prison reports Legionnaires' disease outbreak

Indianapolis Star - 12/1/2021

A state prison has reported an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease among those held in the Pendleton facility, the Indiana Department of Correction announced Wednesday.

Three cases of the disease have been confirmed among those incarcerated at Pendleton Correction Facility, along with two probable cases. All five people live in two units of the prison.

Officials with the state prison system and state health department are determining the outbreak's source. The bacterial lung infection is spread by aerosolized water droplets, such as mist or steam, not person-to-person contact. Prison officials said toilets and drinking water are not affected because the bacteria is spread through inhaled water droplets.

Related: What is Legionnaires' disease

The facility's hot water has been turned off as a result.

"Protecting the incarcerated population and staff at the facility is the top priority," a news release about the outbreak stated.

The five people have been taken to hospitals for treatment. The news release stated testing is underway.

Contact Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com or 317-503-7514.