Stockton, CA…Officials from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), California Correctional Health Care Services, California Department of Public Health and San Joaquin County Public Health are investigating the presence of Legionella at California Health Care Facility (CHCF) and the Northern California Youth Correctional Center (NCYCC), which includes N.A. Chaderjian and O.H. Close Youth Correctional Facilities, in Stockton. Last month, a patient from CHCF passed away at an outside hospital, and post-death analysis confirmed Legionnaires’ disease in the patient.

In response to preliminary environmental testing results confirming the presence of Legionella, CDCR began implementing recommended mitigation efforts. This includes the discontinued use of potable water, providing bottled water to staff and inmates, installing self-filtering showerheads, and increasing education.

“The safety and security of everyone who lives in, works in or visits our facilities is our top priority. After consulting with local and state public health experts, and out of an abundance of caution, we are taking several steps to address the presence of Legionella in our affected institutions,” said CDCR Secretary Ralph Diaz.

Visiting programs will remain operational at the Stockton facilities. Notices will be posted at institution entrances and information on Legionnaires’ disease will be available to visitors. As mitigation efforts continue, visitors should consider their own personal risk factors prior to assuming the risks associated with visiting, including, but not limited to, a possible increase to their own susceptibility to Legionnaires’ disease.

Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia that is caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila found in both potable and non-potable water systems. The illness is carried via aerosolized water, such as steam, mist and moisture. The bottled water and filtered showers are a precaution while environmental testing is finalized.

In addition to the inmate who passed away in March, one additional inmate tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease; he is in good condition after receiving treatment at the institution. As of today, there were 29 cases of pneumonia at CHCF tested for Legionnaires’ disease with 26 of those being negative. No cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been reported at NCYCC.