Health officials in Gaston County confirm 17 Legionnaires’ disease cases, up from 10 in September 2024, as they continue searching for the outbreak’s source.
GASTONIA, N.C. — Health officials in Gaston County are continuing their investigation into a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases.
Gaston County Public Health announced that seven additional cases have been confirmed since their last news release in September 2024, bringing the total to 17 cases. This compares to three confirmed cases in 2023 and three confirmed cases in 2022.
Despite ongoing efforts, the environmental source of the illnesses has not yet been determined. The cluster came to public health attention last summer and officials have been working closely with the North Carolina Division of Public Health and the CDC to identify possible sources of the bacteria and make recommendations for preventing additional illnesses.
“Investigations into Legionnaires’ disease clusters can be complex,” health officials noted in their announcement. Previous outbreaks have been traced to various water sources including cooling towers, building plumbing systems, hot tubs and decorative fountains.
Understanding the Disease
Legionnaires’ disease is a bacterial pneumonia that people can get after breathing in aerosolized water containing Legionella bacteria. You cannot get Legionnaires’ disease by drinking water that has Legionella. It is not spread from person to person.
Symptoms typically include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, headaches, muscle aches, and fatigue. Additional symptoms may include weakness, loss of appetite, confusion, diarrhea, and nausea.
