The death toll in New York City‘s legionnaires’ outbreak has risen once again, bringing the total number of victims to three.
As of July 19, 74 residents in NYC’s Upper East Side neighborhood have tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia spread through contaminated water vapor that kills one in ten patients. This is up from 63 last week.
Hospitalizations, however, have decreased from 12 to eight. A total of 51 people have been discharged from the hospital, according to the New York City Health Department.
‘It is with great sadness that I report a third person has died in connection with the Legionnaires’ disease community cluster on the Upper East Side,’ City Health Commissioner Dr Alister F Martin said.
‘Our hearts are with their family and friends as they mourn their loss. Out of respect for their personal privacy, we will not be releasing any additional information about their passing.’
No details have been released about any of the patients who have been infected, hospitalized or died in the outbreak.
As of last week, 76 buildings had been identified as potential sources of Legionella bacteria, which causes Legionnaires’ disease.
The health department said it believes the source of the bacteria has likely been eliminated and that it will continue inspecting every cooling tower that tested positive.
Cooling towers and air conditioning units are seen in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan last year amid a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in the area
The sites on the list span zip codes 10128, 10029, 10075 and 10028, which are located in the Upper East Side, Yorkville and Carnegie Hill areas of Manhattan.
Officials originally identified 10075, 10028, and 10128 as potential hot spots, as almost all the patients live, work or had recently visited those areas.
Of note among the buildings is The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Spence School – a private school that costs nearly $70,000 a year, the Guggenheim Museum, a building with a Whole Foods Market at the street level, Gracie Towers – a residential building across the street from the New York City mayor’s official residence – and a fitness facility.
As of July 20, cleaning has been completed in all 76 buildings listed.
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‘This is not an issue with any building’s plumbing system,’ the health department said Sunday. ‘Residents in these ZIP codes can continue to drink tap water, bathe, shower, cook and use your air conditioner in your home.’
The first known case in the area was reported on June 27 and an outbreak was suspected earlier this month as additional cases were reported.
Legionnaires’ disease is caused by the Legionella bacteria that thrives in warm and damp locations. It can become airborne in water vapor and then be breathed in by people, potentially triggering an infection.
Common sources for the Legionella bacteria include centralized air conditioning systems, hot tubs, water fountains and large building plumbing systems.
The disease does not spread from person to person.
Infected patients initially suffer from a headache, muscle aches and fever, before the disease also triggers a cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, confusion or other symptoms.
In severe cases, patients can suffer from severe pneumonia and the potentially fatal complication sepsis, when the bacteria spreads to the blood.
‘Any New Yorkers who currently live or work in this area or people who have visited the area since late June and are experiencing flu-like symptoms, such as cough, fever, or difficulty breathing should contact a health care provider immediately,’ the health department said.
Doctors can treat the disease using antibiotics but note these drugs are most effective during the early stages of the disease and before its spread in the body.
As of July 19, there have been 74 cases of Legionnaires’ in the current outbreak. Eight people are hospitalized and three have died
Those who are over 50 years old, smoke or vape, have a chronic lung disease or a weakened immune system are at higher risk from the bacteria.
Nationwide, infections with Legionnaires’ disease have soared over the last two decades, rising from about 1,100 cases in 2000 to more than 8,000 today.
New York City records between 300 and 600 cases every year, according to data from the city’s health department.
In August last year, seven people died and 114 people were sickened by a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Harlem. Ninety people were hospitalized.
Health officials linked that outbreak to the bacteria in 12 cooling towers across 10 buildings, including a city-run hospital and sexual health clinic.
About 90 percent of those infected had underlying risk factors, including being over 50 years old, being a smoker or having a chronic lung disease.
