Transcript The city of Atlanta is dealing with the largest outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the city's history.
Eleven confirmed cases, sixty-three probable cases and one death have been linked to a Sheraton hotel in the city.
And now several lawsuits are being filed on behalf of those who contracted Legionnaires' disease while staying there.
Lawyers say every hotel knows bacteria lives in its water systems and policies and procedures should be in place to prevent the spread of Legionella.
For an outbreak like this to happen, lawyers say someone did not follow procedure and families should be compensated for their injuries.
Officials with the Sheraton Hotel say they have completed a thorough cleaning, scrubbing and chlorination of all its water features and they are working closely with the Georgia Department of Public health and environmental experts to ensure no further threat of Legionella infection.
So what is Legionnaires' and what makes it so dangerous?
Legionnaires' disease is a serious type of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria.
It's a bacteria, typically found in warm freshwater like hot tubs, hot water tanks and decorative fountains.
It can also be found in showerheads and plumbing systems in large buildings.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a bacteria rarely causes illness in natural water sources but when it grows in a man-made setting, it can become dangerous.
Water droplets containing Legionella get into the air and people breathe it in.
Symptoms of general pneumonia like coughing, muscle aches, fever, shortness of breath and headaches can occur.
It can typically be treated with antibiotics but people over the age of fifty, those with COPD, past or current smokers or those with a weakened immune system are at a greater risk.
According to the CDC about one in ten people infected with Legionnaires' dies.
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