A Florida school had to be vacated after a kindergarten teacher tragically died of Legionnaires’ disease.
Katherine Pennington, 61, a teacher at Pasadena Fundamental School, suddenly passed away on November 24 after testing positive for Legionella – a bacteria that causes the severe form of pneumonia.
The Dayton, Ohio native, who worked at the school for 36 years, spent four days inside the Intensive Care unit at Pasadena Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
After word broke of Pennington contracting the deadly disease, the school temporarily evacuated seven of its classrooms, moving students and teachers to other parts of the building.
Donita Moody, the school’s principal, said repairs are set to be made on the air conditioning systems in those classrooms, according to a letter she sent out to parents on Wednesday, Tampa Bay Times reported.
Instead of spreading from person to person like other diseases, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease commonly circulates through mist, like air conditioning units located in larger buildings, according to Mayo Clinic.
In her letter, Moody did not address the death of Pennington or the disease, as she continued: ‘In an abundance of caution, air quality tests will also be done to ensure students and staff remain safe.
‘Students will return to their original classroom as repairs are completed,’ she added.