The Pinellas County (Florida) district has temporarily vacated seven classrooms at a St. Petersburg elementary school following the death of a teacher who tested positive for legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease.
The Tampa Bay Times reports that Katherine Pennington, a teacher at Pasadena Fundamental Elementary School, died Nov. 24 after four days in intensive care.
School principal Donita Moody said students in Building 4 of the school will take classes elsewhere on campus while repairs were made to the air-conditioning system.
“In an abundance of caution, air quality tests will also be done to ensure students and staff remain safe,” the principal said in a message to parents. “Students will return to their original classroom as soon as repairs are completed.”
Pennington, 61, was hospitalized with high fever, headache, chills and sweats. She was placed in hospice care after her organs began to fail, said her sister, Suzanne Geisler.
Geisler said that she had spoken with a colleague of her sister who told her that there had been a report of standing water and black mold in the building’s air-handler. She said teachers had expressed concern to the school’s administration about working in the building.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious form of pneumonia that causes fever, headache, muscle ache and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Pinellas County district is waiting on test results of air samples from the building.
“The district and school staff continue to work closely with the (Department of Health) to ensure all necessary measures are taken to safeguard the health and well-being of the school community,” said spokesperson Isabel Mascareñas.
