MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa —

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and Marshall County Public Health recommended moving this year's Oktemberfest festivities out of northern Marshalltown "out of an abundance of caution" amid a Legionnaires' disease outbreak .

Mayor Joel Greer read a letter from MCPH during Monday's City Council meeting and acknowledged the concerns raised.

"There is certainly a concern about Legionnaires' disease, and how it's transmitted is still a problem," Greer said.

As of Sept. 23, there have been 71 cases of Legionella identified in Marshalltown, and two deaths reported . The exact source of the outbreak is not yet confirmed, but is believed to likely be a cooling tower in the northern part of the city .

Downtown business owners told council members the

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