ASHEVILLE, N.C. – State health officials have confirmed a second death in an outbreak of Legionella bacteria that has infected more than 100 people who attended a North Carolina fair last month. Officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health confirmed 134 cases of Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac Fever in people who attended the 2019 N.C. Mountain State Fair, which took place Sept. 6-15 at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center in Fletcher.

Eighty-eight people have been hospitalized.

Personal information, including the victims’ location of residence, ages and genders, was not released.

“We send our sincerest condolences to the families of the two people who have died and to all those who have been affected by this outbreak,” said Dr. Zack Moore, state epidemiologist. “Legionnaires’ disease is a serious illness which can lead to complications and death, especially in older individuals or those with underlying conditions.”

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While officials have not yet confirmed a source for the deadly bacteria, officials have pointed to a hot tub display as the most likely culprit.

"The preliminary epidemiologic and environmental findings suggest that exposure to Legionellabacteria occurred in the Davis Event Center of the WNC Ag Center, particularly near the hot tubs and during the last five days of the fair," the health department release stated.