One person has died in connection with a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, marking the first reported death as health officials continue investigating the source of the growing cluster.
The New York City Health Department said the outbreak has reached 71 confirmed cases as of July 17. Ten people remain hospitalized, 48 have been discharged, 12 were not hospitalized and one person has died.
New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin announced the death July 17, offering condolences to the person’s family while saying no additional identifying information would be released out of respect for the family’s privacy.
Health officials are continuing to search for the source of the outbreak, which has primarily affected the Carnegie Hill and Yorkville neighborhoods. While multiple cooling towers have tested positive for Legionella bacteria, investigators have not determined which, if any, are responsible for the illnesses.
Dozens of Cooling Towers Ordered to Be Disinfected
The city began investigating the outbreak July 2 after identifying two cases in the area. Since then, officials have detected living or dead Legionella bacteria in cooling tower systems at more than 75 buildings across the Upper East Side.
As a precaution, the city has ordered 76 buildings to clean, drain and disinfect their cooling towers while the investigation continues. The affected buildings include apartment complexes, museums and private schools.
Health officials emphasized the outbreak is not related to residential plumbing systems. Residents in the affected ZIP codes, 10028, 10128 and 10075, can continue to drink tap water, bathe, shower, cook and use home air conditioners safely.
What Is Legionnaires’ Disease?
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which thrive in warm water systems. People become infected by breathing in tiny droplets of contaminated water, commonly from sources such as cooling towers, hot tubs or decorative fountains.
The disease does not spread person-to-person, and people cannot become infected by drinking tap water or from cooled air produced by home air-conditioning units, according to the New York City Health Department.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Legionnaires’ disease can be treated with antibiotics, especially when diagnosed early, but about 1 in 10 people who develop the illness die from it.
Who Is at Greatest Risk?
According to the city’s health department, people most at risk include adults age 50 and older, smokers and people who vape, as well as those with chronic heart, lung, kidney or liver disease, diabetes or weakened immune systems.
Symptoms include fever, chills, cough, muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, confusion and, in some cases, diarrhea.
Health officials urged anyone who lives, works or has visited the affected Upper East Side neighborhoods since late June and develops flu-like or pneumonia-like symptoms, including cough, fever or difficulty breathing, to seek medical care promptly and tell their provider they are concerned about possible Legionnaires’ disease.
Last year, a separate Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood sickened more than 100 people and resulted in seven deaths, according to health officials.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY. Reporting by Anthony Thompson, USA TODAY / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.
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