ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — The state’s Department of Health for Ohio has officially confirmed five cases of Legionnaires disease in the county, raising concerns over the source of the disease. The disease, a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling mist containing the Legionella bacteria, has left health officials struggling to explain the illness to the community.
In a release on Monday, the county’s Health Department said there had been no outbreak of the disease.
“As of this release, there have been no presumptive healthcare associated cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Ross County residents in 2023. In the last decade, there have been no general Legionella outbreaks or healthcare associated outbreaks of Legionella in Ross County,” the statement read by the county.
In a parallel development, Adena Health System’s main campus in Chillicothe has come under scrutiny following a positive cases of Legionnaires disease. Nine individuals have reported symptoms, and one fatality has been linked to the disease. The hospital has faced accusations from patients who claim their illness is connected to Adena, despite the hospital denying any link to the facility.
A spokesman for the state health organization said that cases, have in fact been reported.
“So far in 2023, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has reported five cases of Legionnaires’ disease among Ross County residents,” said spokesman Ken Gordon. “Because of state privacy laws, ODH is prohibited from releasing any details about individual cases. ODH works closely with local health departments to investigate cases of Legionnaires’ disease and works with healthcare facilities on appropriate follow-up actions when indicated.”
The situation has been compounded by a lack of testing results released by both the health department and the hospital. While both entities maintain that they follow protocol, they have not disclosed whether tests have been conducted to rule out the hospital as the source of an outbreak.
The handling of cases at Adena Health System has also raised concerns. Affected families reported that patients were treated for Legionnaires disease but were told they had pneumonia, causing distress and prompting second opinions. Cody Horn, Adena’s infectious disease expert, has expressed his concerns to the Ross County Health Department, aiming to raise public awareness about the illneess’ seriousness.
Legionnaires disease is primarily contracted by inhaling water droplets containing the Legionella bacteria. Sources of exposure include air conditioning systems, showers, hot tubs, and fountains. Symptoms range from high fever and cough to muscle aches and headaches. In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia and death if not promptly treated.
This story was edited to clarify the nature of the story.