GSK temporarily closes North Carolina factory as Legionnaires' bacteria found

13 August 2015

UK drug major GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) has temporarily closed its factory in North Carolina, USA, after bacteria that causes deadly Legionnaires’ disease was found in a cooling tower, but says supply should not be affected.

The site in Zebulon was found to contain Legionella bacteria in a routine inspection, but GSK has stated that the cooling tower does not come into contact with product manufactured at the facility. The Zebulon plant manufactures around 30 drugs including Advair (fluticasone/salmeterol), Malarone (atovaquone/proguanil), Combivir (lamivudine/zidovudine). Jenny Brewer Lidgay, a spokesperson for GSK, said approximately 600 staff were sent home or told not to come in while the tower was being disinfected. No case of Legionnaires’ disease has been reported as being linked to the facility. Ms Lidgay said: "more details on whether product has been impacted and, if [so], what is our procedure in place to handle that."

The company said the shutdown was not expected to affect supply.

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