Deadly bacteria discovered in Los Angeles office as employee tests for illness

The airborne bacteria that causes deadly Legionnaires’ disease was discovered at the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office, and an employee later tested positive for the disease.

The bacteria, Legionella, was detected in a cooling system at an office near downtown Los Angeles, according to NBC 4.

The identity of the worker who tested positive for the person’s condition has not been released.

Authorities have not publicly established whether the employee’s infection was linked to the contaminated system.

“The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has been informed that a Los Angeles County employee has tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease,” a department spokesperson told NBC.

The discovery dates back to May 2026, when the bacteria was found during maintenance work.

Employees at the affected buildings were notified later in the year, officials said.

A spokesperson for the medical examiner’s office declined to answer questions, referring inquiries to the Department of Public Health.

The county has not reported any other infections involving people who were jointly exposed to the employee.

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“To date, no additional cases have been identified with exposures common to this individual,” officials said.

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria. People can become infected by breathing contaminated water droplets or mist, which can come from buildings’ cooling equipment and plumbing systems.

County health officials described the bacteria as “commonly found in building plumbing systems, particularly in older buildings.”

The illness can cause fever, chills, headache, cough and difficulty breathing. Symptoms usually appear two to 14 days after exposure, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says they can usually be treated with antibiotics.

The infection does not usually spread directly between people. Instead, contaminated water systems can release droplets that carry bacteria into the air.

County officials said health care providers must report “symptomatic cases” and public health authorities monitor high-risk environments.