Death Toll in New York Legionnaires’ Outbreak Hits 8

The eight people who died were older and had other medical problems.

New York City health officials say eight people with Legionnaires’ disease have died amid an outbreak that has sickened dozens more.

Legionnaires’ disease is a respiratory bacterial infection usually spread through mist that comes from a water source, such as cooling towers, air conditioning or showers. All five have since been cleared.

The legionella bacteria were discovered Friday at the Opera House Hotel in the Bronx. Five towers in the area tested positive for legionella bacteria and have since been decontaminated.

Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said a “comprehensive package” of new legislation would be announced this week to halt future outbreaks of Legionnaires’, with emphasis on long-term prevention.

“People with underlying illnesses, including chronic lung disease, which can be asthma, can be emphysema, or chronic bronchitis, are people who are more at risk, so there is a higher underlying disease burden in the South Bronx”, health commissioner Bassett said.

Building owners would be required to register the locations of cooling towers with the city. Symptoms of the disease include fever, chills and a cough. Outbreaks of the disease “have become far too common over the past ten years, and the City will respond not by only addressing an outbreak as it occurs, but with a new plan to help prevent these outbreaks from happening in the first place”, he said. An outbreak of the disease in Philadelphia in 1976, largely among people attending a convention of the American Legion, led to its name.