25 cases of legionellosis reported. How were they infected?

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed 15 cases of Legionellosis in Buncombe County, including one death, associated with the Mountain State Fair of northern British Columbia. Six more cases were confirmed in Henderson County and a total of 25 cases were reported at the state level.

Officials say Legionnaires' patients have all spent time at the N. Mountain State Mountain Fair, although this has not been confirmed as a source of the outbreak. Respiratory disease is transmitted when people breathe in aerosolized water droplets, such as those from misting stations or large air conditioners.

The Mountain State Fair was held September 6-15 at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher. More than 170,000 people attended this 10-day event, according to salon officials.

There was no misting station or water ride at the WNC Ag Center for the fair, Ag Center media representative Paul Jones told The Citizen Times.

Several calls to the contractor who provided the rides and games at the fair were not returned.

"We still do not know if any people might have been exposed to Legionella bacteria at the NC Mountain State Fair," said Dr. Zack Moore, the state epidemiologist in a press release on March 24. September. "As a precaution, we recommend anyone visiting the fair with symptoms of pneumonia, such as a cough, fever or shortness of breath, to see a doctor immediately and talk to him about Legionnaires' disease."

Who was touched?

The nine patients reported correspond to the profile of people vulnerable to Legionnaires' Disease, Bongombe County DHHS spokesperson Stacey Wood said, referring to people over 50 with weakened immune systems and / or having already smoked. .

Health officials were due to visit the WNC Ag Center on September 25 to "get an idea of ​​the terrain," said Jones, although all the rides, concession stands, and kiosks of the fair were gone.

How did it spread?

Water is the source of legionellosis, but some water sources are more likely to spread the disease than others.

Knowing that this difference is imperative for those who are worried about the potential exposure to the disease at the Mountain State Fair,

"I know that during previous outbreaks, there is less stagnant water and more of a sort of source of spray water," said Dr. James Whitehouse, physician of infectious diseases at Mission Health. "So it's a gentleman, it's a sprayer – it's something that aerosolizes the water and then, you accidentally inhale it."

For example, an epidemic at Disneyland in 2017 was attributed to a cooling tower that was spraying water as part of the air conditioning of the park.

According to Jennifer Mullendore, Medical Director of Buncombe County Health and Social Services, drinking water and being near calm water at the fair should not be a concern for them. participants.

This story is in development and will be updated as new information becomes available.