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Michigan reports 10th fatal case of Legionnaires' disease

Doctor with stethoscope photo
Alex Proimos via Wikimedia | CC BY 2.0

Michigan health officials have found a 10th fatal case of Legionnaires' disease in the Flint area amid an outbreak some experts have linked to the city's water crisis.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said Friday the death last year is now among 88 cases of the respiratory disease detected between June 2014 and November 2015.

No definitive link has been made, but some researchers believe the source of the Legionella bacteria is the Flint River, which the city began using as its water source in April 2014.

Flint now is dealing with lead-contaminated water.

Officials say the person who died wasn't a Genesee County resident but was being treated at a local hospital when he or she developed symptoms of the disease, which can cause pneumonia.

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