WILCOX COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - The Georgia Department of Public Health says its investigation into Legionnaires’ disease at Wilcox State Prison has been ongoing since December 2023, following reports of illness.

In a statement shared with WALB, DPH said investigations into Legionnaires’ disease can take months or even years to complete, depending on the circumstances and the remediation process.

The investigation includes several steps, including identifying the source of the Legionella bacteria, developing a plan to address the issue and conducting multiple rounds of water sampling and testing.

DPH said officials also work to create or update a water management plan designed to minimize the growth and transmission of Legionella in the future.

According to the agency, those steps are generally the same regardless of where an investigation takes place, but the length of an investigation can vary depending on remediation efforts and follow-up testing.

DPH did not provide additional details about the current status of the investigation at Wilcox State Prison.

Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which can grow in water systems and spread when people breathe in contaminated water droplets.

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