The New York City Health Department is investigating a cluster of 18 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the Upper East Side neighborhoods of Carnegie Hill and Yorkville. The city reports there have been no deaths associated with this cluster.
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia. The risk to most people is low, but the city is urging people who live or work in these areas and have flu-like symptoms to visit a healthcare provider right away. Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, and shortness of breath.
The affected neighborhoods are ZIP codes 10028, 10128 and 10075.
Officials said that the likely source of the bacteria causing this pneumonia is a cooling tower in a building in the affected area. The health department said that all cooling towers in the area are being tested.
Officials stressed that this is not an issue with any building’s plumbing system. It is safe for people to drink water, bathe, shower, cook, and use their air conditioners.
The city first reported two cases on July 2. By July 5 in the evening, the number had reached 18.
Last summer, an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease in the Central Harlem neighborhood of the city led to at least six deaths and more than 100 diagnosed cases. The bacteria was discovered in 12 cooling towers on 10 buildings, including a city-run hospital and sexual health clinic, health officials said.
Topics New York