Durham, NC – Approximately 84 people were exposed to bacteria that can cause legionnaires ’disease while attending the Duke University K Academy basketball court.
In a press release, a Duke spokeswoman said people were exposed at the adult camp between Aug. 11 and Sunday.
People were being treated for an illness after they were likely exposed to the bacterium Legionella in a training room in the Schwartz-Butters building on campus. Since then, the training room has been closed and cleaning was being done.
Bacteria can also cause Pontiac fever, a milder infection than legionnaires ’disease, which mainly causes fever and muscle aches.
People have reported flu-like symptoms, including fever, muscle fatigue, nausea, and respiratory distress. People who report being sick are treated at Duke or his personal doctors. Duke’s spokeswoman said everyone is expected to fully recover.
According to a spokeswoman, all the people who were exposed to the bacterium have been contacted.
No Duke student-athlete was exposed to the bacteria or reported being ill.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia caused by the bacterium Legionella, which is found in fresh water, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bacteria can be found in showers, faucets, jacuzzis, cooling towers, hot water tanks, decorative fountains, and plumbing systems.
Symptoms, which can start two to ten days after exposure to bacteria, are cough, shortness of breath, high fever, muscle aches and headaches.
According to the CDC, approximately one in ten people with legionnaires’ disease dies. Legionnaires’ disease is treated with antibiotics and most people who get sick recover completely.
In 2019, four people died from legionnaire’s disease after attending the Mountain State Fair in western North Carolina. A report from the state Department of Health and Human Services said the water in the hot tub that sprayed in the air probably caused the outbreak, which included 136 cases of legionnaire’s disease and one case. of Pontiac fever.
Since that outbreak in western North Carolina, the CDC has updated guidelines for hot tub displays at public events, in part based on North Carolina findings, including suggested training. for owners and suppliers of hot tubs and recommended daily water tests.