
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 the outbreak is linked to a gym, reported ABC News affiliate WFTV.
The letter from the department did not list the name of the gym, but WFTV reported that a Crunch Fitness in Ocoee -- 12 miles west of Orlando -- had members reporting cases of Legionnaires' disease.
3 dead and at least 67 sick from growing Legionnaires' disease cluster in New York City
Crunch Fitness told the station it is working with the health department, has closed off 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 returned ABC News' request for comment.
Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling the Legionella bacteria in small droplets of water mixed in the air or contaminated water accidentally going into your lungs.
Legionella bacteria are found naturally in freshwater but typically grow best in warm water and in warm to hot temperatures, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The disease does not spread from person to person, but outbreaks can grow if the bacteria get into a building's water supply, including in shower heads, sink faucets, hot water tanks, heaters and other plumbing systems.
Mysterious outbreak in Argentina solved: Legionnaires' disease behind illness that sickened 11
Legionnaires has increased in prevalence over the last decade, reaching a peak of 2.71 cases per 100,000 in 2018, the CDC said. Cases dropped during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and then rebounded in 2021.
Although most people recover from Legionnaires' disease with antibiotics, certain patients -- including those who are immunocompromised or who suffer from chronic lung diseases -- can develop complications that can be fatal.
About one out of every 10 people who develops Legionnaires' disease will die due to complications, according to the CDC. Among those who develop Legionnaires' disease during a stay in a health care facility, about one out of every four people will die, the federal health agency added.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Elvis Presley's Infamous Pantera Shooting - 2
Far-right German youth group delegates seek deportations, remigration - 3
Which One Energizes You the Most These Tech Developments - 4
FACT FOCUS: Trump sows confusion on number of childhood vaccinations - 5
Activists Took BMW and Mercedes to Court Over Gas Cars. It Didn’t Stick
6 US States for Fly Fishing
South Korea to End Bear Bile Farming and Find New Homes for the 200 Bears Stuck in the Industry
Find the Specialty of Calligraphy: Dominating the Exquisite Art of Penmanship
Trump administration launches new immigration crackdowns in New Orleans and Minneapolis. Here are all the cities it has targeted so far.
Working out at the airport? Some fliers can already smell the sweat.
April’s full pink moon will rise in the night sky this week
Step by step instructions to Streamline Your Dozing Involvement in a Savvy Bed
IDF strikes Hamas terror base in Lebanon, Health Ministry says 11 killed
Can humans have babies in space? It may be harder than expected













