Ocoee, FL โข- Health officials are โinvestigating a possible outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease perhaps linkedโฃ to โthe Crunch โFitness locationโข on Silverโ Star Road in Ocoee, โaccording โtoโ a law firm representing individualsโค affected by theโฃ illness. At least โone member of theโ Ocoee Crunch Fitness has been hospitalized with a confirmed case of the disease.
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form โof pneumoniaโ caused by Legionella bacteria, oftenโค found in โwater โsystems. โฃWhile the source of the current cases remains undetermined, the investigation isโฃ focused on the Crunchโ Fitness facility due to its history; the location previously operated asโฃ an LA Fitness โand was โฃtheโ site of three Legionnaires’ cases investigated in 2017.
Crunchโค Fitness has stated it is indeed cooperating withโ health officialsโข and has proactively closed off portionsโ ofโ the gym to conduct thoroughโ water testing โof its pool and spa systems,utilizing certified third-party specialists. The company โคreports havingโฃ investedโฃ over $5 millionโ inโ renovations to theโข facility, including its HVAC and aquatic systems, before โขopening in 2024.
The โขFlorida Department ofโฃ Healthโข has declined to comment on the ongoing epidemiology investigation. Despite the testing, the facility remains open to members.
One gym member, identified only as Jones, told News 6 she chose not to work out after speaking withโ facility staff, stating, โ”We need to be safe โin that habitat.”
Management at the Crunch Fitness location declined to provide a statement when contacted by News 6, requesting privacy.โ
This is a โขdeveloping story. Check back for updates.
