Overview
- Kaiser Permanente confirmed late Wednesday that 18 infections were identified through routine water monitoring at its Santa Clara medical center.
- The facility remains open and reported added water treatment and other safety steps as it works with local and state health authorities to find the source.
- Santa Clara County public health officials described the broader risk as low, and the hospital said masks are not needed for patients or visitors.
- Legionella spreads by inhaling contaminated mist from plumbing or cooling systems, not from person to person, and older adults or people with weak immune systems face higher risk.
- Kaiser has not said whether the infected were patients, staff or visitors, though a hospital physician said most are recovering at home, and CDC data show higher death rates when cases are linked to healthcare settings.