
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 reported that a Crunch Fitness in Ocoee -- 12 miles west of Orlando -- had members reporting cases of Legionnaires' disease.
3 dead and at least 67 sick from growing Legionnaires' disease cluster in New York City
Crunch Fitness told the station it is 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."
Neither the Florida Department of Health nor Crunch Fitness immediately returned ABC News' request for comment.
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.
Mysterious outbreak in Argentina solved: Legionnaires' disease behind illness that sickened 11
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.
latest_posts
- 1
Iran war pushes Germany's deficit to 4.2% as growth outlook is cut by 50% - 2
Good ways to respond if your kid brings home less-than-ideal grades - 3
Netflix's Eddie Murphy documentary explains 'Saturday Night Live' beef: 'That's why I didn't go back for years' - 4
Minute Maid’s frozen juice concentrate is ending after 80 years — and so is a certain kind of kitchen ritual - 5
Nature's Best: A Manual for Beautiful Train Rides
Fact Check: Some Bridge Photos Circulating Do NOT Show The Hongqi Bridge That Collapsed In Southwest China Nov. 11, 2025
Man threatens attack on German high-speed train, injures several
Visiting This Japanese City Just Got A Little More Expensive (Here's What Travelers Should Know)
As cases of a rare, deadly infection rise, doctors worry fewer teens will get vaccinated
Quantum Computing’s Next Major Breakthroughs Could Come From Australia
The Main 10 Natural life Protection Associations
The Force of Systems administration: Individual Examples of overcoming adversity
In Antarctica, photos show a remote area teeming with life amid growing risks from climate change
Which Brilliant Home Gadget Can't You Reside Without?












