State health officials zero in on cause of Legionnaire's outbreak

FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) - Alabama health officials say they've confirmed 15 cases of Legionnaires' disease in Florence, and positive cultures for Legionella bacteria have been found in three cooling towers in the northwest Alabama city. The assistant state health officer, Dr. Karen Landers, said Monday the 15 confirmed cases include one death. She said test results are pending on 10 others. All the cases have been associated with residents and visitors at Glenwood Nursing Home. Landers said positive cultures for the bacteria came from two cooling towers at Regency Square Mall and one cooling tower at Southwire. The towers have been turned off and will be cleaned. She said testing will determine if there is a link between the cooling towers and the nursing home outbreak.