ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, August 8, 1996               TAG: 9608080045
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-4  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: FREDERICKSBURG

OFFICIALS CLEAN CENTER THAT HAS LEGIONNAIRES' BACTERIA

Officials at the Naval Surface Warfare Center are cleaning and repairing a building where a man was exposed to the bacteria that can cause Legionnaires' disease.

The bacteria are fairly common in the environment. ``A lot of us are exposed to it but, by and large, we don't have any problem,'' said Dr. George E.T. Stebbing, director of the Rappahannock Area Health District. In most outbreaks, the source of the infection has been traced to the water or air-conditioning systems in large, public buildings.

The air is being monitored, the air conditioning is being cleaned and the leaky roof is being repaired, officials said.

Dahlgren officials said the man has not developed Legionnaires' disease symptoms and has returned to work.

Twelve cases of Legionnaires' disease have been confirmed in Virginia through June of this year, according to Ron Hyman, director of health statistics for the health department. Twenty-eight cases were reported in 1995. The disease is occasionally fatal.

- Associated Press

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