PDT NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) -- Three new cases of Legionnaires' disease have been reported at a suburban Philadelphia nursing home that had an outbreak almost two years ago that caused two deaths, authorities said Friday.

Legionnaires' disease is a form of pneumonia caused by a bug that occurs naturally in water. Most people exposed to it never get sick, but the elderly and people with weak immune systems can be susceptible.

The bacterial infection was listed as one of the causes of the May 3 death of a 92-year-old woman at the Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life, Montgomery County Health Director Dr. Joseph M. DiMino said.

A 52-year-old housekeeping employee and a 101-year-old male resident tested positive this month, DiMino said. Both are expected to recover.

Some water tests also have shown the bacterium, officials said.

The nursing home plans to maintain a low level of chlorine in its water supply to kill the bacterium, DiMino said.

In 2002, a dozen people at the nursing home were found to have the disease; two of them died.

Legionnaires' disease is found worldwide and does not spread from person to person. It was first recognized after an outbreak at an American Legion convention in 1976 in Philadelphia, where it made 182 people sick.
 

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