MCHD reports third Legionella case, encourages awareness and prevention 09.17.26

September 17, 2026

MCHD reports third Legionella case, encourages awareness and prevention

MOBILE, Ala. — The Mobile County Health Department reports the third confirmed case of Legionnaires’ disease this year in a Mobile County resident who recently returned from international travel.

The individual is receiving appropriate medical attention. Based on the available information, the illness appears to be travel-associated. The Mobile County Health Department is working with the Alabama Department of Public Health and relevant partners to complete the routine public-health investigation, including reviewing potential exposures during the 14 days before symptoms began.

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. People can become ill after breathing in small droplets or mist containing the bacteria. Legionella can grow in certain human-made water systems, particularly where warm water and complex plumbing systems are present, including showers, hot-water tanks, decorative fountains, hot tubs, cooling towers, hotels, cruise ships, hospitals, and other large buildings. It is not generally spread from person to person.

Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and pneumonia. Symptoms commonly begin two to 14 days after exposure. Because these symptoms can resemble other forms of pneumonia, laboratory testing is needed to determine whether a person has Legionnaires’ disease.

“Awareness and early medical care are important because Legionnaires’ disease can become serious, particularly for people at greater risk,” said Mobile County Health Officer Dr. Kevin Michaels. “Anyone who develops pneumonia-like symptoms after travel, a hotel stay, a cruise, or another possible exposure to aerosolized water should contact a health care provider promptly and share their recent travel history.”

Adults age 50 and older, current or former smokers, people with chronic lung disease, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of developing Legionnaires’ disease. Most healthy people exposed to Legionella do not become ill; however, individuals in higher-risk groups should seek care quickly if they develop symptoms.

The best prevention is proper maintenance and management of building water systems. Owners and managers of hotels, health care facilities, long-term care facilities, large residential buildings, and other properties with complex water systems should maintain water-management practices designed to limit Legionella growth and spread. CDC identifies water-system maintenance as the key measure for preventing Legionnaires’ disease.

The Mobile County Health Department encourages residents to remain informed without alarm. A single travel-associated case does not indicate a local outbreak. CDC defines a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak as two or more cases connected to the same possible source during a 12-month period.

Residents with questions about Legionnaires’ disease may contact the Mobile County Health Department’s Infectious Diseases & Outbreaks team at 251-690-8970.