Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak In New York City Leaves 2 Dead

Two people have died and more than 50 have been sickened by a Legionnaires’ Disease cluster in New York City, the city health department said on Monday, Aug. 4.

The New York City Health Department said 58 people in Central Harlem have been diagnosed with the disease since July 25 in ZIP codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037 and 10039, as well as bordering communities.

“Anyone in these zip codes with flu-like symptoms should contact a health care provider as soon as possible,” Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse said in a statement.

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria, according to the Mayo Clinic. The disease can be treated with antibiotics, but adults over 50, people with weakened immune systems and smokers can be most susceptible to complications.

Legionnaires’ is not spread from person to person, but rather from breathing in water vapor that contains Legionella bacteria, which grows in warm water, according to the health department.

Cooling towers, whirlpool spas, hot tubs, humidifiers, hot water tanks and evaporative condensers of large air-conditioning systems are common places for the Legionella bacteria to grow, the health department said.

Health officials tested local New York City cooling towers and found Legionella bacteria. The department said that the remediation process for 11 cooling towers with positive results for showing the presence of a bacterium causing Legionnaires’ has been completed.

An investigation into the cluster is ongoing, officials said.

What is Legionnaires’ Disease?

Legionnaire’s disease is a type of pneumonia, or lung infection, caused by Legionella bacteria, according to the Mayo Clinic. If untreated, Legionnaire’s disease can be deadly.

Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease start about 2 to 10 days after exposure to the bacteria, and often begin with a headache, muscle aches or a fever that may reach 104 degrees or higher, according to the Mayo Clinic.

By the second or third day, symptoms can include:

• Cough (which might bring up mucus and sometimes blood)
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
• Confusion or other mental changes

If a person thinks they have come into contact with Legionella bacteria, they should see a healthcare provider, the Mayo Clinic said. The sooner Legionnaires’ disease is diagnosed, the sooner you can be treated for serious complications.

People at high risk for the disease include smokers, those who have a weakened immune system, those with chronic lung conditions and people over the age of 50, according to the Mayo Clinic. They should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

The Legionella bacteria can also cause Pontiac fever, a mild flu-like illness that usually goes away on its own, according to the Mayo Clinic.