Sheboygan County is seeing an increase in Legionnaires' disease; two facilities under investigation - Sheboygan Press

The MilliporeSigma campus in Sheboygan Falls. (Photo: Millipore Sigma).

In a news release Thursday, the Sheboygan County Division of Public Health reported a recent uptick in the disease but said it didn't know the source of legionella, a bacteria that carries the disease and can be found in water. .

Both Pine Haven Christian Communities and MilliporeSigma are working with public health to identify any potential sources of legionella in their water sources.

These two investigations were still going, according to the news release, and public health will report results upon completion. .

Multiple state agencies are involved with the investigations, including the Department of Health Services, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the Department of Safety and Professional Services.

Legionnaires' disease is not contagious and almost never is transmitted from person to person, according to public health

Public health said the risk of developing the disease is low, but chances are higher for people over the age of 50, those who smoke and people who are at a higher risk for infection, such as those with weakened immune systems

People with symptoms are encouraged to see their health care provider, public health said

For people who are in good health, public health said the best way to protect themselves is to avoid smoking cigarettes

More: Sheboygan County reports 2 more deaths related to COVID-19 for second consecutive day

More: Sheboygan County Board rejects public health ordinance after residents accuse officials of trying to 'rule'