1 dead from Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Hopkins

The Minnesota Department of Health says an elderly person has died from a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Hopkins that has sickened 14 people.

Deputy State Epidemiologist Richard Danila said the death did not come as a surprise given the scope of the outbreak which began earlier this month.

Officials are not releasing the age or gender of the person who died. Danila would only say the deceased was "quite elderly." He said such outbreaks typically have a death rate of about 10 to 15 percent.

Legionnaire's disease is contracted by inhaling mist from water sources containing Legionella bacteria. Officials say they still don't know what the source of the disease is but they're investigating several possibilities.