MDH: 23 Sick From Hopkins-Associated Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The number of people sick with Legionnaires' disease in the Twin Cities is now at 23, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
All of the cases involve people who live, work or have spent time in Hopkins before Sept. 10.
MDH officials say they have focused their investigation on seven locations that have one of more cooling towers, which are suspected of emitting aerosolized water containing the Legionella bacteria.
All cooling towers are now said to be safe, or are in the process of having maintenance work done.
A person can contract Legionnaires' disease by breathing in fine mist that contains the Legionella bacteria, though not all people who ingest the bacteria get the disease. The disease cannot be contracted by simply drinking water.
One person had died so far from this outbreak.