A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on Manhattan’s Upper East Side has sickened 67 people, resulting in one death. New York City health officials announced the death on Friday, as the number of confirmed infections continued to rise.
Outbreak Details
Investigators are tracing the outbreak to Legionella pneumophila bacteria found in 76 cooling towers across the Upper East Side and one on the Upper West Side. Buildings that tested positive, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, have been ordered to clean and disinfect their cooling towers.
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which naturally occurs in water but can multiply in building water systems such as cooling towers. The illness can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early.
Health officials urged anyone who lives, works or has visited the affected area since late June and develops flu-like symptoms to contact a health care provider immediately. Symptoms typically appear two to 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches and headaches.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
