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Two Cases Of Legionnaires’ Disease At Athens Hospital
By: Associated Press
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An Athens hospital has diagnosed two people with Legionnaires' Disease in the same week, but health officials say the cases are not part of any outbreak.
Regional public health epidemiologist Tonya McGuire says the cases diagnosed last week at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens are unrelated.
Legionnaires' is an airborne illness caused by a type of bacteria called Legionella. McGuire says it's always present in the environment and local residents should not fear that they're at increased risk of contracting the disease.
Officials say an Ohio University graduate student is one of the two people diagnosed.
A hospital in Dayton earlier this year reported 11 Legionnaires' cases. Tests traced the bacteria to a part of the hospital's hot water system.