 Although a comparatively large outbreak (117 patients) occurred in 1996 in Fannin County, Texas., the largest outbreak (122 patients) was the original one in Brainerd, MN.There have been no secondary cases reported in any of the outbreaks, suggesting that the 
causative agent cannot be passed from person to person, but boiling water appears to inactivate the Brainerd agent.Although there is no treatment available, the disease does appear to resolve itself, although this process takes months if not years.