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Hampton, NH (WMUR) — State health officials confirmed Monday that there have now been five confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease at Hampton Beach.
Health officials previously said there were at least four people sickened by the bacterial infection. All had spent some time within a half-mile stretch of Ashworth Avenue between Island Path and H Street.
Business owners in the area said they are concerned their customers are under the impression it is not safe to travel to Hampton during one of the busiest times of the year.
“They think if they come to Hampton Beach, they’re going to get Legionnaires’ disease and they’re going to die. That’s what I’m getting for phone calls,” said Steven Chasse, owner of the Grayhurst Hotel.
Health officials said they’re releasing the information about the cluster so that people with weak or compromised immune systems can make an informed decision about where they travel.
Legionnella pneumonia is contracted by inhaling contaminated water droplets, which can be spread in a number of ways, including hot tubs and cooling towers.
The illness can’t be contracted by swimming in or drinking water and can’t be spread from person to person.
“There’s no health risk if someone touches water that has this bacteria (or) drinks water with this bacteria. This is not an infection that can be passed from person to person,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan.
Health officials said they’re working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to try to locate the source of the infections and ensure there is no ongoing public health risk.
“I assure you that our staff has been working day and night since we’ve identified the cluster,” said Lisa Morris, director of the New Hampshire Division of Public Health.
Of the confirmed cases, three people were hospitalized but have since been released.
Officials said that over the past five years, New Hampshire has averaged about 32 cases of Legionnaires’ disease each year. A cluster of infections hasn’t been seen in the state in more than 10 years.
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