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FLORIDA - Florida health officials are investigating a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases after multiple people became ill following visits to a Central Florida gym.
The Florida Department of Health has confirmed at least 14 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Orange County that officials say are associated with exposure at a gym facility in the Orlando area.
The illness, which is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, is typically contracted by inhaling contaminated water droplets and is not spread person to person.
State health officials notified local leaders that epidemiological data pointed to a shared gym exposure among the confirmed cases.
While authorities have not publicly named the facility, local reporting has identified a Crunch Fitness location on Silver Star Road in Ocoee as the gym connected to the investigation.
The gym has acknowledged working with health officials and temporarily restricted access to certain areas as a precaution.
According to representatives for the gym, independent environmental testing of water systems and surfaces did not detect Legionella bacteria.
Despite those results, the Florida Department of Health has stated that its investigation remains ongoing and that additional analysis is needed to determine the exact source of exposure.
Legionella bacteria can grow in warm water environments such as hot tubs, showers, pools, and complex plumbing systems.
Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease often appear between two and 14 days after exposure and may include fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, and headaches.
Older adults, smokers, and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness.
Health officials noted that Orange County has seen a higher than usual number of Legionnaires’ disease cases this year.
Residents are advised to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms, especially if they recently visited facilities with large water systems.