Surrey Walmart reopened after Legionnaires’ disease outbreak
Posted September 8, 2018 1:16 pm.
Last Updated September 9, 2018 2:34 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS 1130) – A Surrey Walmart is opening its doors to customers today after it closed on Friday because of a Legionnaire’s disease outbreak.
Seven people were sent to hospital over the last two weeks with the disease, and all of them had underlying risk factors.
The Fraser Health Authority detected the legionella bacterium after doing environmental inspection and testing at the Walmart and Guildford mall area. Water samples were taken from cooling towers, water fountains and other water features in the area.
Fraser Health found legionnella bacteria in tanks that cool the store’s fridge and freezer units during a recent inspection.
Legionaries’ disease is a severe pneumonia with symptoms like cough, fever, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
It’s open now, but the store was closed yesterday so they could start cleaning those cooling tanks.
