A person has died and over 20 others have fallen ill in an ongoing outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Central Harlem, New York City health officials announced. The outbreak has grown to 22 confirmed cases as of Thursday, affecting five ZIP codes: 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037, and 10039.
City health officials are urging anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms to seek medical attention immediately. They stress that early diagnosis can lead to effective treatment, especially for those at higher risk, such as adults over 50, smokers, or those with chronic lung conditions.
Cooling towers in affected buildings have been tested for legionella, the bacteria causing Legionnaires’ disease. The health department has ordered building owners to remediate their cooling towers within 24 hours and report back to the agency.
Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease typically appear within two to 14 days after exposure and include cough, fever, headaches, muscle aches, shortness of breath, diarrhea, confusion, and nausea. While most healthy individuals exposed to legionella do not fall ill, New York City records an average of 200-700 cases annually.
The number of Legionnaires’ disease cases nationwide has increased over the past two decades, peaking in 2018. In 2015, a major outbreak in NYC resulted in at least a dozen deaths and over 100 illnesses. Health officials note that hot and humid weather conditions can facilitate bacterial growth, which is currently exacerbating the situation.
Source: https://gothamist.com/news/one-dead-20-sick-in-legionnaires-disease-outbreak-in-central-harlem-officials-say