McKINNEY – Collin County Health Care Services confirmed Friday a patient in the county is being treated for Legionnaires' disease.
Officials tell News 8 the patient went to the doctor on Nov. 25 and was confirmed to have the disease the next day. No other identifying information was released.
The health department is checking the patient's travel history to figure out where the disease was contracted.
Legionnairre's disease is found in water and can't be transmitted person-to-person.
It is a type of pneumonia caused by bacteria found in mist from water that can come from hot tubs, showers, or air conditioning units for large buildings, among other places, according to the National Institute of Health.
Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include high fever, chills, a cough, and sometimes muscle aches and headaches. Other types of pneumonia have similar symptoms. You will probably need a chest x-ray to diagnose the pneumonia. Lab tests can detect the specific bacteria that cause Legionnaires' disease.
Contact you doctor if you are exhibiting symptoms.
According to the National Institute of Health, Legionnaires' is serious and can be life-threatening, but most people recover with antibiotic treatment.
