Six San Quentin prison inmates have tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease, and more than 50 others are showing early symptoms following an outbreak discovered at the Bay Area prison late last week, officials said.
The potentially life-threatening lung infection, a type of pneumonia, is contracted by inhaling mist from water contaminated with the Legionella pneumophila bacteria.
The first inmate was diagnosed on Thursday and taken to a nearby hospital.
Prison officials have not isolated the source of the bacteria, so they shut off taps, showers and closed the kitchen to eliminate steam from cooking and cleaning, said spokeswoman Dana Simas.