State says Hopkins Cooling Tower was Source of Legionnaire’s

HOPKINS --The Minnesota Department of Health says it has identified the source of the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Hopkins that sickened 23 people and caused one death.

The department said in a statement Wednesday that it's confident that the source is a set of cooling towers at a manufacturing company called Citrus Systems Inc.

Lab tests show the strain of Legionella bacteria found in one of the cooling towers matched the strain in samples taken from patients linked to the outbreak.

The affected tower was cleaned disinfected two weeks ago, and the department says the company is cooperated fully.

Legionnaires' disease is an infection people can get from inhaling contaminated mist or vapor.

Seventeen people were hospitalized during the outbreak, but no new cases have been reported since Sept. 22.