January 5, 2021
The Multnomah County Health Department on Monday urged residents to temporarily leave their North Portland apartments after multiple people became ill with Legionnaires Disease.
Four people have been hospitalized and one person has died.
The Health Department notified more than 100 residents at Rosemont Court, 597 North Dekum St, of concerns about the water system after multiple people became ill with pneumonia. The Health Department is working with Northwest Housing Alternatives which owns Rosemont Court to temporarily relocate residents and ensure proper cleaning of the building plumbing system to remove any remaining Legionella bacteria. The bacteria is found naturally in fresh water, but can cause health problems if it gets into a building’s water supply.