Michigan orders Flint hospital to address Legionella risks
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan ordered a Flint hospital Tuesday to immediately comply with federal recommendations that were issued due to its association with a deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreak, saying the hospital’s water system is unsanitary and a possible source of illness.
The order, which was issued by the state Department of Health and Human Services, said McLaren Flint has insufficiently shown compliance with recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the fall.
The hospital fired back, accusing the state of providing “absolutely no support” during the 2014-15 outbreak and retroactively casting blame after criminal charges were filed against 13 current or former state and city workers.
Some outside experts suspect the spike in cases was linked to Flint’s improperly treated, lead-contaminated tap water, but the state said a review “has raised several new questions that require answers.”