At least 14 cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been reported in central Florida.
In an email to state Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, the Florida Department of Health revealed that the outbreak is linked to a gym, the ABC News affiliate reported. Wftv.
The department’s letter did not include the name of the gym, but WFTV reported that a Crunch Fitness in Ocoee, 12 miles west of Orlando, had members who reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease.
Crunch Fitness told the station it is working with the health department, has closed parts of the gym and is testing its pool and spa systems “out of an abundance of caution.”
Neither the Florida Department of Health nor Crunch Fitness immediately responded to ABC News’ request for comment.
File photo of Legionnaires’ disease bacteria.
Bsip/uig/Getty Images/Universal Images
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia. caused by inhaling Legionella bacteria in small water droplets mixed in the air or in contaminated water that accidentally enters the lungs.
Legionella bacteria are found naturally in fresh water, but typically grow best in warm water and warm or warm temperatures, depending on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION).
The disease is not spread from person to person, but outbreaks can grow if the bacteria enters a building’s water supply, including shower heads, sink faucets, hot water tanks, heaters and other plumbing systems.
The prevalence of legionnaires has increased over the last decade, reaching a peak of 2.71 cases per 100,000 in 2018, the CDC said. Cases declined during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and then recovered in 2021.
Although most people recover from Legionnaires’ disease with antibiotics, certain patients, including those who are immunocompromised or have chronic lung diseases, can develop complications that can be fatal.
According to the CDC, about one in 10 people who develop Legionnaires’ disease will die due to complications. Among those who develop Legionnaires’ disease during a stay in a health care facility, about one in four people will die, the federal health agency added.
