GSK plans to reopen contaminated NC site this weekend

The GSK site tainted with Legionella bacteria will likely reopen in a few days, the company says.

GlaxoSmithKline announced it is cleaning the plant in Zebulon, North Carolina after routine testing on Tuesday discovered the bacteria behind Legionnaire’s disease in two of the building’s external cooling towers.

GSK said there is no risk to products manufactured inside the plant but it shut the site because the towers are needed to maintain temperature and humidity for manufacturing.

The cooling towers are external units with no contact with product or employees,” said the company.

We anticipate resuming production in the next 72 hours after cleaning, disinfecting, and returning the plant back to normal operating conditions,” it said on Wednesday evening.