14 cases of Legionnaires' disease reported in Florida
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 previously reported that a Crunch Fitness in Ocoee -- 12 miles west of Orlando -- had members reporting cases of Legionnaires' disease.
However, preliminary test results shared with ABC News by Crunch Fitness in Ocoee indicated testing by state officials did not find evidence of the bacteria that causes Legionnaire's disease in the samples taken so far at the gym.
"Recent testing conducted by the Florida Department of Health has confirmed that all 20 environmental samples collected at Crunch Ocoee — including nine bulk-water samples and 11 swab samples — tested negative for Legionella," the gym said in statement shared by a PR firm. "The Department performed an extensive evaluation of our facility, including the spa systems, showers, hot water heaters, water fountains, bathroom sinks, and the exterior water main. Every sample showed zero evidence of Legionella."
The statement went on to say: "We understand there is heightened community attention following reports of Legionellosis cases in the wider Ocoee and Pine Hills areas. While health officials continue their broader investigation, the Department of Health’s comprehensive testing into the identified systems has found no current indication that Crunch Ocoee’s water systems contained the presence of Legionella pneumophila."
ABC News reached out to the Florida Department of Health for an update on their investigation but did not immediately hear back.
Earlier, Crunch Fitness told the station it was 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."
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.
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.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated with additional information.
