10 die of Legionnaires’ outbreak in New York City

Legionnaire’s disease has not been something we have had to worry too much about but the bacteria which causes it has cropped up in New York over the past few months. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 8,000 and 18,000 people in the USA are hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease each year, but many infections aren’t diagnosed or reported, so the number may be higher.

With an outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease affecting some New York City communities, Jefferson County health officials say they are monitoring the situation and locals need not be concerned.

A University Hospitals spokesperson said the 53-year-old woman died Thursday morning after being diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease.

The city’s health department advises people who live and work in the area to take quick action if they develop symptoms such as fever, cough, chills and muscle aches. Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Amy Edwards said she sees one or two cases a year. It will also offer free testing to all private buildings in the Bronx.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has proposed legislation that would set new inspection standards for buildings with cooling and condensing units, and impose penalties for failure to comply. The illness can be treated with antibiotics but those with preexisting conditions are at greater risk, as was the case with the 10 people who have died so far.

Why is a deadly outbreak only occurring now and only in the South Bronx?

The outbreak’s ground zero remained to be the South Bronx, as 10 buildings from the area have now been tested positive with the bacteria.

Legionnaires’ is not spread from person to person.

Any building that doesn’t meet the health guidelines and are disobeying the law will be severely penalized so that the mistake is not repeated. Hospital staff said they followed strict guidelines on keep the cooling towers.

Legionnaires’ disease – so named because the ailment was first identified after an outbreak at an American Legion convention in 1976 – is a treatable bacterial pneumonia.

It is unclear exactly how many cooling towers there are in the city, but city Health Commissioner Mary Bassett said there are at least 2,500, mostly in commercial and industrial settings.

Dr. Howard Zucker, the state health commissioner, expected the test results in about a week.