ZEBULON- The GlaxoSmithKline manufacturing site has temporarily shut down on Tuesday after routine testing found bacteria in the cooling towers.
The Legionella bacteria that was discovered is known to cause Legionnaires’ disease which is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia, and it's typically found in water systems.
The bacteria was found during routine testing in the cooling tower at a GSK manufacturing site in Zebulon. The plant employs about 600 people, and all staff who work in the main site were told to leave while second and third shift employees will be notified not to come to work until the situation has cleared.
A GSK spokesperson says the plan is to clean and retest the cooling towers before they have employees return to work.
The drugmaker says they hope to have everyone back to work by Thursday.
Officials with the Department of Health and Humans Services confirm at this point they have not had any reports of Legionnaires’ disease cases associated with this facility.
Health officials say it’s important to note that most people who are exposed to Legionella do not become ill, and it's not spread from person to person but from widespread exposure to contaminated water.
Health officials want you to know Legionella bacteria is typically in freshwater environments and in manmade water systems in conditions where:
· Water temperatures are between 77‒108 degrees
· Water is stagnant
· There is a presence of scale, sediment, and biofilm in pipes
The most common places to be found are cooling towers such as the ones at GSK, hot tubs, hot water tanks and decorative fountains.
Though Legionnaires’ disease can be life-threatening, most people recover with antibiotic treatment.
No one has been reported ill at the GSK facility in Zebulon.