Health officials in New York have issued a warning following the outbreak of a deadly lung disease in parts of the city. 

The NYC Health Department is currently investigating a community cluster of five cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Central Harlem.

The patients are located in neighborhoods with the ZIP codes 10027, 10030, 10035, and 10037. 

Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia that causes lung inflammation, and complications from the disease can be fatal.

It is caused by a bacterium, known as Legionella that is primarily spread through the inhalation of contaminated water droplets or aerosols.

These contaminated droplets can be released from various water sources, including cooling towers, hot tubs, showers, and decorative fountains.

To date, there have been no deaths associated with the cluster of patients reported in New York.

The source of the infections remains unidentified, and the Health Department is proactively investigating these cases by collecting and testing water samples from all cooling tower systems in the vicinity.

Health officials in New York have issued a warning following the outbreak of a deadly lung disease in parts of the city

Deputy chief medical officer, Dr. Toni Eyssallenne, advised, “New Yorkers experiencing flu-like symptoms should consult a healthcare provider promptly.”

She added: ‘Legionnaires’ disease can be effectively treated if diagnosed early.

She also emphasized, “Particularly vulnerable individuals, such as those aged 50 and above, smokers, or people with chronic lung conditions, should be especially vigilant about their symptoms and seek medical attention at the onset of any signs.”

In general, the CDC reports that cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been increasing since the early 2000s, with a peak in 2018. 

While reported cases dropped during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, they rebounded in 2021. 

From 2015 to 2020, the bacteria Legionella caused 184 disease outbreaks in the US, resulting in 786 illnesses, 544 hospitalizations and 86 deaths. 

About one in 10 people who become sick will die. 

There is no recent data for Legionnaires’ disease.

The odds of death are higher when the disease is contracted in a hospital setting, with at least one in four dying. 

Early symptoms of Legionnaire’s include fever, loss of appetite, headache, lethargy, muscle pain, and diarrhea. 

The severity can range from a mild cough to fatal pneumonia, and treating infection early with antibiotics is key for survival. 

Legionella can colonize and grow within complex communities of microorganisms called biofilms that form on surfaces within water systems. 

In general, the CDC reports that cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been increasing since the early 2000s, with a peak in 2018 

Once there, the bacteria seeps into the water and becomes aerosolized. 

Plumbing systems, especially those associated with warm water, such as hot water tanks and distribution pipes, can also serve as reservoirs for Legionella bacteria to multiply.

From there it can contaminate water in pipes. Stagnant or low-flow areas in pipes also foster Legionella growth.

Legionella bacteria can multiply significantly in the hot water systems of large buildings like hospitals due to several factors, such as water temperatures below 50 degrees Celsius, areas where water doesn’t flow well and collects, the presence of amoebas and other bacteria, and the materials used in the pipes.

Earlier this year, one person died and several were hospitalized due to an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at a senior living facility in Vermont. It originated from the care home’s water system.

Another recent victim of Legionnaires’ was 71-year-old Barbara Kruschwitz from Massachusetts died of the disease in 2023 one week after staying at a resort in New Hampshire. 

Her husband Henry said she had gone swimming in the hotel’s pool and hot tub.

He said: ‘Her heart had stopped and she couldn’t be revived. And – that’s about as much as I can say.’ 

Water treatment plants typically use a disinfectant such as chlorine to clean out the potable water system.

The most reliable way to determine if your water is contaminated with Legionella is to have it tested by a qualified laboratory. 

Home testing kits are also available, which involve collecting water samples and sending them to a lab for analysis.