Health Officials Warn of Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak in NYC
New York City health officials are alerting residents about an outbreak of lung infections linked to specific zip codes.
As reported by ABC 7, the disease in question is Legionnaires’ disease, with several cases documented recently.
In an update from the New York City Health Bureau, as of Monday afternoon, eight cases were under investigation in the areas covering zip codes 10027, 10030, 10035, and 10037.
The health department emphasized that this outbreak is not related to plumbing issues within buildings. Residents in these areas can continue to use their tap water for drinking, bathing, cooking, and operating air conditioning units at home.
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria that thrive in warm water. Symptoms can resemble those of the flu, and, in severe cases, the illness can be fatal.
Individuals can become ill if they inhale mist that contains the bacteria. Potential sources of contamination include cooling towers, showers, and hot tubs. Interestingly, window air conditioning units do not transmit the bacteria associated with Legionnaires’ disease.
Most people exposed to Legionella do not develop the disease, which is not contagious; you can’t catch it from another person, and simply drinking water does not lead to it.
Dr. Celia Quinn, deputy committee member of the Department of Health’s Disease Control Division, mentioned that community outbreaks are frequently tied to the bacteria found in cooling towers.
She noted, “These are large metal boxes on building rooftops utilized for central air conditioning in sizable structures. When the weather is particularly hot and humid, it can create ideal conditions for bacteria to multiply rapidly.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, Legionella bacteria can also lead to Pontiac fever, a milder illness resembling influenza.
Tragically, in 2022, the city experienced its worst outbreak, resulting in at least five deaths in nursing homes across Manhattan. This information surfaced again on Monday, highlighting the persistent concerns surrounding the disease.
