ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, October 31, 1996 TAG: 9610310027
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK CLOTHIER STAFF WRITER
Health officials confirmed two more cases of Legionnaires' disease in the New River Valley, bringing the total number of cases in the state's first official outbreak to 13.
One person remains hospitalized in critical but slightly improved condition at Salem's Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
A 50-year-old Pearisburg man who was hospitalized with Legionnaires' died Sunday night at Salem's Columbia Lewis-Gale Medical Center.
Both of the newly confirmed patients live in Montgomery County, bringing the total of Legionnaires' cases there to 10. Neither has been hospitalized.
Dr. Jody Hershey, director of the New River Health District, said the average age of the 12 men and one woman confirmed with Legionnaires' is 64.5. Seven are 67 or older. All had one or more underlying health risks, Hershey said.
Officials haven't released any details of their hunt for the Legionella bacterium's source. Hershey said they don't think there is any work-related connection among the cases.
Including the New River Valley cases, 31 cases of Legionnaires' have been confirmed in Virginia this year.
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