From Staff Reports

Buncombe County health officials reported that, as of Sept. 24, there have been nine confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease reported in Buncombe County and one death caused by the illness.

“Six more (cases) have been confirmed in Henderson County, indicating the total number of cases is rising,” the Asheville Citizen Times reported on Sept. 26.

“The investigation into these cases is ongoing,” Asheville television station WLOS News 13 reported. “The N.C. Communicable Disease Branch is working with Mountain State Fair organizers to investigate a possible connection of these cases with attendance at the fair earlier this month.

“Legionnaires’ disease causes a severe lung infection or pneumonia. Symptoms may include cough, high fever, weakness, muscle aches, headache  and shortness of breath.

“Legionnaires’ disease is treated with antibiotics. Most people who get sick with it need to be hospitalized, but recover fully. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 out of 10 people with Legionnaires’ disease will die from the infection,” WLOS reported.