The Brooke County Health Department has seen an increase in Legionnaires’ disease in the area, with five cases reported in the county in just the last few weeks.

The disease is rare, with around 20,000 confirmed cases a year. The symptoms of the disease mimic the flu, pneumonia, and the common cold, and can be treated with antibiotics.

The cases in Brooke County have no apparent link, but they were most likely all contracted in December. The patients were treated or are being treated at local hospitals.

Surrounding health departments and physicians have been notified of the five cases in Brooke County.