County Health Department Investigating Legionnaires' Disease Cases

The Hillsborough County Health Department (HCHD) is investigating at three laboratory confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease. The three cases currently reside in a mobile home park. One of the three cases expired on Oct. 15.

The HCHD is conducting an epidemiology and environmental investigation to determine the cause of exposure, and if anyone else may be at risk for the disease.  The pools and hot tubs at the park have been closed as a precaution while the investigation proceeds. This is only as a precaution, and the source of exposure has not been determined at this time. 

Legionnaires’ disease can have symptoms like many other forms of respiratory disease, so it can be hard to diagnose at first. Signs of the disease include: a high fever, chills, and a cough. Some people may also suffer from muscle aches and headaches. 

Legionnaires' disease is caused by the Legionella bacteria that can be found naturally and anywhere in the environment.  It is important to know that it can't be spread person to person.The bacteria grow best in warm water, like the kind found in hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, or large plumbing systems.

People get Legionnaires' disease when they breathe in a mist or vapor (small droplets of water in the air) that has been contaminated with the bacteria. One example might be from breathing in the vapors or mist from a whirlpool spa that has not been properly cleaned and disinfected.

People most at risk of getting sick from the bacteria are older people (usually 65 years of age or older), as well as people who are smokers, or those who have a chronic lung disease (like emphysema).  People who have weak immune systems from diseases like cancer, diabetes, or kidney failure are also more likely to get sick from Legionella bacteria.

Legionnaires' disease can be very serious and can cause death in 5 to 30 percent of cases. Most cases can be treated successfully with antibiotics, and healthy people usually recover from infection. Most people exposed to the bacteria do not become ill.

For more information, about Legionnaires’ disease, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website or the Food and Waterborne Disease Program’s website.