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
The most effective method to Perceive the Early Side effects of Cellular breakdown in the lungs - 2Study shows no clear link between low-fat dairy and dementia risk
- 3IDF confirms Iranian missile fragments hit near Kirya, multiple cars ablaze in Ramat Gan
- 4Key Training: Picking a Significant for Monetary Achievement
- 5Artemis 2 moon astronauts will try to recreate Apollo 8's historic 'Earthrise' photo during April 6 flyby
- How to identify animal tracks, burrows and other signs of wildlife in your neighborhood
- How to watch the ‘Wicked: One Wonderful Night’ special — now streaming
- What loving-kindness meditation is and how to practice it in the new year
- Kidneys from Black donors are more likely to be thrown away − a bioethicist explains why
- Lightning on Jupiter could be up to 1 million times stronger than on Earth
- Kuwait is softening stance on Israel, dissident tells ‘Post’ after viral UN speech
- NASA's Voyager 1 set to achieve historic distance from Earth
- 'Stranger Things' Season 5: When does Volume 2 come out? And Volume 3? Everything to know about the remaining episodes before the finale.
- Cyber Monday Paramount+ deal: Save 50% and stream these buzzy Taylor Sheridan shows
