Five people have developed Legionnaires' disease following possible exposure to contaminated water droplets from a cooling tower in downtown Lincoln, New Hampshire, state health officials say. Testing by the DHHS and the state Department of Environmental Services confirmed the presence of Legionella bacteria contaminating the cooling tower. Four of the five people diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease were initially hospitalized and later discharged. “RiverWalk is partnering with DHHS to address the contamination, with additional test results for the cooling tower expected next week,” the release said. However, it can cause a more serious pneumonia called Legionnaires' disease, “which can be fatal if left untreated,” the release said.

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Persons: DHHS, Renee Blood, don’t, Benjamin Chan, “, ” Organizations: New Hampshire’s Department of Health, Human Services, of Environmental Services, NBC, RiverWalk Resort, NBC Boston, Centers for Disease Control, CDC Locations: Lincoln , New Hampshire, Lincoln, New