Legionnaires' disease outbreak linked to Atlanta hotel

Legionnaires' disease has been diagnosed in 11 people who stayed at the Sheraton Atlanta, and there have been another 55 probable cases, Georgia health officials say.

The 11 people with confirmed Legionnaires' disease attended a convention at the hotel a few weeks ago. No deaths have been reported. An investigation is underway, but the source of the outbreak has not been found, said Nancy Nydam, director of communications at the Georgia Department of Public Health.

The hotel closed July 15 and remains closed, the Georgia Department of Health said Monday, CNN reported.

Legionnaires' disease affects 10,000 to 18,000 people in the United States each year, and about one in 10 who get the disease dies, according to a recent government report. The number of people with Legionnaires' disease increased nearly fourfold from 2000 to 2014, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, CNN reported.