4 Dead, Dozens Sick in Legionnaires’ Outbreak in New York

Confirmed deaths in New York City due to the Legionnaires' disease rise to four, as another person passes away at the Bronx over the weekend.

In a report by CNN, officials at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene have confirmed 71 cases of the Legionnaires' disease in the South Bronx since mid-July. Fifty-five of the patients have been hospitalized, while over 20 have been discharged.

City representatives say the four patients who died of the disease are older adults with underlying medical complications, a demographic that is known to be more vulnerable to such disease, as well as smokers and those with existing respiratory problems.

A severe type of the commonly known pneumonia, Legionnaires' disease is a respiratory ailment that's caused by a bacterium called legionella. While it cannot spread through person-to-person contact, the disease can be caught by inhaling the bacteria, which particularly thrives in soil and water.

Most people who are stricken with Legionnaires' disease unknowingly breathed in the infected water droplets, common in water systems such as cooling systems, air-conditioning units and swimming pools, among others.

"The towers emit a mist that can carry the Legionella bacteria through the air and can infect people who breathe it on the street below," Jay Varma, the health department's deputy commissioner of disease control, told Wall Street Journal.

So far, five buildings in the South Bronx area tested positive for the legionella bacteria but city officials are continuing its investigation to determine the primary source of the outbreak. Outreach programs intended to help those most vulnerable to the disease are being undertaken, including campaigns to educate the public on the Legionnaires' disease.

Although officials assure citizens that majority of the city is not in danger, those who are experiencing flu-like symptoms including headaches, fevers and muscle pain are encouraged to get tested as a precaution. If treated properly, this particular disease is manageable. However, the possibility of the number of sick patients rising remains, considering the infection's incubation period which can be anywhere between two to 14 days after exposure to the bacterium.

In a statement released on Friday, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. addresses the need for an inspection system for testing water infrastructure for various diseases, including Legionnaires'. In light of the recent outbreak, he says his office will push for legislation to create a process for securing the safety of these water systems.