WHEELING, W.Va.-- Ohio county health officials are now on guard for a serious disease. A case of Legionnaire's disease has sprung up prompting the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department to issue an alert.

They can't say much right now, but NEWS9 has learned that while one case doesn't sound like a lot to be alarmed about, the circumstances surrounding the confirmed case of Legionnaire's initiated the alert.

Legionnaire's disease creates an issue because it presents itself just like the flu. pretty familiar with. However, Legionnaire’s behaves much differently from the flu once it’s in the community.

"Flu passes from person to person. Legionella doesn't, so it's coming from a contaminated source," said Howard Gamble of the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department.

Typically, the Legionella bacteria is associated with water issues; water in air conditioning units or large tanks. Several concentrated cases of the disease may be linked to water tanks that serve many people.

"What makes it more difficult is when we find that Legionella is in the community. It's not pertaining to a certain water tower or air conditioning unit, humidifier," said Gamble.

It's not very common. Over a 10-year period, most counties in the state averaged anywhere from zero to three cases per year.  However, the Northern Panhandle has the highest concentration of average number of cases per year. Hancock and Tyler counties ranked second highest in the state according to 2004 United States census data

Thus, the recent confirmation of the Legionella bacteria in Ohio County has put local physicians on high alert.

"In some parts of the county, legionella is growing a little bit more than the average number, but the physician has to be very wise on how to diagnose and treat a Legionella case versus just your average flu," said Gamble.

Symptoms include fever, chills, cough, muscle aches, headache, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and abdominal pain-- all symptoms also linked to the flu. But Legionnaire's disease also presents with pneumonia. Plus, Legionnaire's symptoms tend to persist longer than a flu.

Those most at risk include males, people older than 50, smokers, and those with diabetes, lung or kidney disease, and suppressed immune systems.

Fortunately, Gamble said, Legionnaire's disease can be treated, and pretty easily if detected.

"Legionella left untreated can be pretty harmful," said Gamble.

Officials say if you experience any of those symptoms together, the best thing to do is seek care from your primary physician as soon as you can.