Legionnaires' disease closes Marine PX at Cherry Point
An employee of the exchange at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point has been diagnosed with Legionnaires' Disease, officials said Thursday, prompting the closure of the exchange complex for inspection.
Posted — UpdatedOfficials haven't yet determined how the employee contracted the illness.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the bacteria that cause Legionnaires' Disease are naturally found in the environment but aren't spread from person to person.
Legionnaires' disease can have symptoms like many other forms of pneumonia, such as a high fever, chills and a cough. Some people may also suffer from muscle aches and headaches. The illness can cause death in 5 to 30 percent of cases, but most cases can be treated successfully with antibiotics.
Officials said they anticipate that testing of the exchange will take two days. The Cherry Point Commissary, which operates on an independent air system, is operating on its normal schedule, they said.
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