Legionnaire's Outbreak at Ford Plant

C L E V E L A N D, March 15 -- A Ford Motor Co. worker who died last week hadLegionnaire's disease, bringing to four the number of casesconfirmed among workers at an engine casting plant, officials saidtoday.

The Cleveland Casting Plant, which employs 2,500, was closedWednesday night at least through the weekend after the third casewas confirmed. The plant hasn't been confirmed as the source of thedisease, which is caused by water-born bacteria.

Donald Tafoya, 61, a 27-year Ford employee, died March 9 withpneumonia symptoms. Cuyahoga County Health Commissioner TimothyHorgan said test results on Tafoya were positive for the bacteriathat cause Legionnaires' disease.

Pneumonia Cases Re-examined

Two of the sick workers were still hospitalized today and thethird was being treated at home, said Willie Hubbard, president ofUnited Auto Workers Local 1250.

Health officials also were double-checking 10 cases of pneumoniaamong workers.

Health investigators today took water samples from showerstalls, drinking fountains, air-conditioning units and other areasat the plant to determine if the bacteria exist there.

It could take five to 10 days to match any bacteria found in thewater with the strain of disease that may have been contracted bythe sick workers. There are numerous varieties of the disease.Disease Spread Through Contaminated Water

Legionnaires' disease is a form of pneumonia that is spreadthrough inhalation of mist from contaminated water. It does notspread from person to person.

It was identified at a 1976 American Legion convention inPhiladelphia. Symptoms include high fever, cough and shortness ofbreath.

Roman Krygier, Ford vice president of powertrain operations,expressed the company's sympathy to Tafoya's family.

"Our company is taking extraordinary measures to deal with thisissue," Krygier said in a prepared statement tonight. "Weare cooperating with all public health authorities. Nothing is moreimportant to us than the safety and welfare of our employees."