Indiana inmate dies amid prison Legionnaires disease cases

PENDLETON, Ind. (AP) - A central Indiana prison inmate has died after being among those confirmed ill with Legionnaire's disease amid an outbreak of the bacterial lung infection at the facility, state prison officials said.

The inmate from the Pendleton Correctional Facility died Friday morning at a hospital, the Indiana Department of Correction said.

The agency had announced Wednesday that three inmates had confirmed cases of the illness and two others had probable cases. All five inmates had been taken to hospitals for treatment and prison system and health officials were working to determine the source of the outbreak at the facility about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northeast of Indianapolis.

The prison's hot water has been turned off during the investigation into the source of the illness, but the prison's toilets and drinking water are not affected, officials said. The Legionella bacteria is spread through inhaled water droplets, such as mist or steam, and not person-to-person contact.