Protect & Promote: Investigation & Monitoring of Communicable Disease in Buncombe County

Protect & Promote: Investigation & Monitoring of Communicable Disease in Buncombe County

As stated in the NC Division of Public Health (NC DPH) news release, Public Health Officials are reporting a case of Legionnaires’ disease in a person who did not attend the Mountain State Fair but was present at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center (WNC Ag Center) after the fair ended. According to NC DPH, this person attended the Quilt Show held at the WNC Ag Center during Sept. 27–29.

Public health officials at the state and local levels continue to monitor for new cases of Legionnaires’ disease and have not identified any other additional reports in people who were at the WNC Ag Center after the Mountain State Fair ended. As NC DPH said in their release; at this time, this is the only case of Legionnaires’ disease in an individual who did not attend the NC Mountain State Fair but was at the WNC Ag Center after the fair ended on Sept. 15. 

Protect Your Health: 
Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease include fever, cough and shortness of breath. These symptoms can be very similar to the flu or other respiratory infections that are common at this time of year. It is important to talk to your doctor if you have these symptoms to determine whether testing or treatment for this infection might be needed.

Our Commitment to You: 
Buncombe County Health and Human Services (BCHHS) is committed to protecting and promoting the public’s health and will continue to investigate reports of illness, assist medical providers with case identification and proper lab testing, and collect and analyze data. BCHHS, like all local health departments in NC, investigates suspected cases of reportable communicable diseases in residents of our county. We continue to ask that medical providers, hospitals and laboratories remain vigilant in reporting communicable diseases to their local health departments.

Our Communicable Disease (CD) Nurses are always on call, 24/7, to respond to reports of suspected communicable disease in our county.  If you live in Buncombe County and have questions about Legionnaires’ disease, please call Buncombe County Communicable Disease at (828) 250 – 5109.

Legionnaires’ disease has impacted many people in our community and our thoughts are with all of those who are affected. As we look forward to additional information from NC DPH,  Buncombe County HHS will continue to provide factual information that supports our goal of protecting and promoting the public’s health.