WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Forsyth County Department of Public Health has identified one new case of Legionella Pneumonia (Legionnaires’ disease) at Oak Forest Health and Rehabilitation.
This is the first case identified in over two months and was found through ongoing close monitoring that has been conducted since the first cases in the facility were identified in June 2014.
Legionnaires’ disease does not spread from person-to-person. Legionella is a bacterium commonly found in the environment, particularly in warm water and in systems producing aerosols or mist. People can get infected when they breathe in a mist or vapor that has been contaminated with Legionella bacteria, but most healthy people who are exposed to the Legionella bacteria do not become ill.
Symptoms include high fever, chills, cough, body aches, headache and fatigue. The disease begins approximately 2-10 days after exposure to the bacteria and can be treated effectively with antibiotics.
