Legionnaires' disease kills 78-year-old Nova Scotia woman

The Nova Scotia Health Authority has confirmed a 78-year-old woman died after a legionnaires' disease outbreak in Dartmouth. 

Officials said on Wednesday they don't normally confirm patient cases or conditions, but made an exception after the family asked that the authority make public the death.

The family confirms the victim's name was Beverly Roma and she died on Saturday. Roma had been in hospital since Aug. 27. 

"At first they didn't know it was legionnaires' disease," said Elta Mullins, Roma's daughter. 

"One of the doctors, she had picked up on the fact that she was the fifth person from Alderney [Manor] that came in with respiratory problems and she started an investigation."

Several days later, it was confirmed to her family that Roma had legionnaires'. 

"They [Nova Scotia Health Authority officials] came to the hospital and spoke with us about mom's habits, where she may have been, what a typical day was," said Mullins. 

"The ICU nurses and doctors were very good with mom." 

Five people who live at Alderney Manor in Dartmouth were confirmed to have contracted the disease — a severe form of pneumonia — by the Nova Scotia Health Authority. The first case was confirmed Sept. 2.

The bacteria is spread by water mist, often through showers and air conditioners. Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches and diarrhea. It's more common among older people and is fatal in 15 per cent of cases.

Last week, pipes running through all units in the building were flushed with hot water and treated with a leased copper-silver ionization system for a second time. The first flushing was done Sept. 11. 

Mullins says her mother's funeral will be on Thursday.