Officials at San Diego State University closed the Exercise and Nutritional Sciences building on Monday as part of an investigation into a case of Legionnaires’ disease.

University officials did not state whether the case involves a faculty member, staff or student.

On Feb. 13, Environmental Health & Safety alerted the SDSU community of a single case of Legionella pneumonia in the community. Officials reported the campus community member is not on campus now and is recovering.

Symptoms of the disease include cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches and headaches. The disease is oftentimes carried in water systems.

The disease gained notoriety in 1976 during a Legionnaires conference at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. Twenty-nine attendees died and some 180 were sickened by the disease.

To be cautious as possible, school officials elected to close the ENS facility so they could conduct testing. As such, all students, staff, faculty and those visiting the campus are prohibited from entering the building until testing has been finished and the building is deemed safe.

For students who take classes in the building, they were told to reach out to instructors regarding questions on courses and whether those specific classes would be cancelled or taught online during the week.

More information is on the Health Advisories website, sacd.sdsu.edu/student-health-services/legionella.

Photo credit: Karen Austin