Florida health officials have confirmed 14 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in connection to an Orlando gym in an email exchange with a state senator, according to local media reports.
Newsweek reached out to the Florida Department of Health (DOH) by email outside of normal business hours on Saturday morning for comment.
Why It Matters
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe version of pneumonia that derives from a bacterium known as legionella that is usually contracted from infected water or soil. Older adults, people with weaker immune systems, and people who smoke have a higher risk of contracting the infection, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms include headache, muscle ache, and high fever in the initial phase, followed by coughing, which can bring up mucus or even blood, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, diarrhea, and confusion or other mental changes. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal…