Legionnaires’ disease outbreak kills one and infects others in the South Bronx
Summary
One person has died and four others have been sickened in a new outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in the South Bronx, New York City. Health officials are investigating the source and testing cooling towers, which can spread the bacteria cause of the disease.Key Facts
- Five cases of legionnaires’ disease have been confirmed in Melrose and Morrisania areas of the South Bronx.
- One person died from the infection.
- Cooling towers in the area were tested because they can spread Legionella bacteria through mist.
- Building owners with positive tests must clean and disinfect their cooling towers.
- Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, and cough; the disease is treatable with antibiotics if caught early.
- Legionnaires’ disease spreads by breathing in mist with the bacteria, but it does not spread from person to person.
- Officials advise people with flu-like symptoms who visited or live in the affected areas since late August to see a doctor.
- A previous outbreak ended recently on Manhattan’s Upper East Side; multiple outbreaks have happened in NYC before.
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