Legionnaires’ bacteria found in Pennsylvania school’s water

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. – Routine testing has uncovered the bacteria that cause Legionnaires’ disease in the hot water at a southeastern Pennsylvania high school.

Kennett High School in Chester County outside Philadelphia is closed while officials work to eliminate the legionella bacteria. The school has discontinued using the boiler room spigot where the positive sample was taken and as an additional precaution shut down all showers.

The school district says there is no cause for alarm and the Health Department says there are no confirmed reports of Legionnaires’ disease.

The district says the bacteria are not passed from person to person and people often receive low-level exposure as it exists naturally in the environment.