Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in NY kills two

NEW YORK – An outbreak of a deadly Legionnaires’ disease has killed two people in their fifties in New York this week, while 46 others were reported infected in the South Bronx since July 10.

New York Mayor Bill De Blasio said, “Legionnaire’s is a common type of pneumonia caused by the bacterium legionella.”

Legionnaires’ disease is a respiratory bacterial infection that usually spreads through mist that comes from a contaminated water source, such as cooling towers or air conditioners.
The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says most people recover, but 5  to 30 percent of those who get the disease die.

But Mayor De Blasio says it can be treated with antibiotics.

“Thank God it is not contagious. People who have it do not spread it. It can be treated and it can be treated well if caught early,” the mayor said.

“Those at risk are people who are older, who have underlying diseases, who have symptoms,” New York Health Commissioner Mary Bassett said. “The symptoms include cough, fever, headache, muscle pains, chills. You should see a doctor if any of these symptoms develop because this is a very treatable disease.”

Mayor De Blasio says city crews are now in the process of decontaminating rooftop cooling systems at the Lincoln Hospital and Concourse Plaza that tested positive for legionella.

“There is, therefore, no reason for alarm because the situation is being addressed. But it’s good for everyone to understand this disease and be able to respond if they might have the symptoms or if anyone they know would,” he said.

Health experts say 8,000 to 18,000 hospitalized cases of Legionnaires’ disease occur in the US annually.

You may contact Don Tagala at don_tagala@abs-cbn.com for more information.