An Alberta man is recovering in University Hospital in Edmonton with a suspected case of Legionnaires' disease after first showing symptoms during a snowmobiling trip to Valemount.
The Northern Health Authority sent an environmental health officer on Tuesday to the city to investigate the case to conduct inspections on recreational water facilities at hotels in Valemount, located 210 kilometres east of Prince George.
"Northern Health takes any incidents that may impact on public health very seriously and that's our top priority," said Northern Health communications officer Jessica Quinn.
"At this time we have not seen any cases of Legionnaires' disease being treated in a B.C. hospital and nobody's presented to a B.C. hospital any symptoms of the disease. Alberta Health Services is aware of one possible case of Legionnaires disease but neither the diagnosis nor the place of origin has been confirmed."
It is believed the man is a 45-year-old Edmonton-area farmer.
Legionnaires' is a potentially fatal bacterial infection that produces high fever and pneumonia.
It is contracted by inhaling fine airborne particles through the air or through water mist.
It is not spread from person to person.
Quinn confirmed hot tubs and saunas are the focus of the investigation in Valemount.
"It is a very rare thing, there has not been another case reported in northern B.C. in the last four years," said Quinn. "It typically affects older people and people with underlying conditions.
"There's no reason to panic. The situation is under control and we have not recommended any travel advisory to Valemount and we don't recommend any facilities that need to be closed. We're taking every action we can to investigate and make sure there is no threat."
