The State Department has confirmed that 21 people have tested positive for Legionnaires Disease in Marshall County and 1 person has died.  KCCI caught up with the wife of a patient, Sarah Moody, who says her husband was experiencing cold symptoms for weeks before things got worse on Sunday.

Legionnaires Disease is a form of pneumonia.  Health officials say the disease is caused by Legionella bacteria and typically spreads when people breathe in small droplets of water or soil that contain the bacteria.

Marshalltown Water Works has tested their water and it came back negative for Legionella bacteria.  The one person who died from Legionnaires, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services says, they were older and had other health complications. The HHS Department has reported that the outbreak is with people who all in the north central Marshalltown.  HHS is now asking property owners, businesses and individuals, especially those with cooling towers, hot tubs or fountains, to review water management practices.  Disinfection of water systems should be done to prevent bacteria growth, along with regular water system maintenance.

Link to Press Release – https://hhs.iowa.gov/news-release/2025-09-04/iowa-hhs-announces-investigation-legionnaires-disease-cluster-marshalltown

Zach Tomesch, News Director KFJB