Two folks have died and at the least 58 folks have been identified with Legionnaires’ illness in a cluster that broke out within the Harlem space of New York Metropolis final week, officers stated on Monday.
The New York Metropolis Well being Division had reported on Thursday that one individual had died and 22 folks have been sick within the cluster.
“Individuals residing or working within the space with flu-like signs, resembling cough, fever, chills, muscle aches, or problem respiratory ought to contact a well being care supplier instantly,” the division stated in an announcement on Monday. “It’s particularly vital for folks at greater threat — together with these ages 50 and older, cigarette people who smoke, and other people with persistent lung illness or compromised immune methods — to get care if they’ve signs.”
Legionnaires’ illness is a kind of pneumonia that’s attributable to the micro organism Legionella, which grows in heat water, well being officers stated, and other people can get Legionnaires’ illness by inhaling water vapor that accommodates Legionella micro organism.
A view exhibits the downtown Manhattan skyline in New York Metropolis, U.S., July 22, 2025.
Kylie Cooper/Reuters
“Anybody in these zip codes with flu-like signs ought to contact a well being care supplier as quickly as potential,” stated Performing Well being Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. “Legionnaires’ illness might be successfully handled if identified early, however New Yorkers at greater threat, like adults aged 50 and older and people who smoke or have persistent lung situations, ought to be particularly conscious of their signs and search care as quickly as signs start.”
Legionnaires’ illness might be attributable to plumbing methods the place situations are favorable for Legionella progress, resembling cooling towers, whirlpool spas, sizzling tubs, humidifiers, sizzling water tanks and evaporative condensers of enormous air-conditioning methods, well being officers stated.
Individuals can get Legionnaires’ illness by inhaling water vapor that accommodates Legionella micro organism, although officers reminded people who the illness can’t be transmitted from individual to individual and might be handled with antibiotics.
The respiratory illness takes its title from an outbreak on the Pennsylvania American Legion conference held on the Bellevue-Stratford Resort in Philadelphia in July 1976 and the bacterium believed to be accountable is present in soil and grows in water, resembling air-conditioning ducts, storage tanks and rivers.
No particulars concerning the two individuals who died have been launched by officers as of Tuesday.
