New York City witnesses an escalation in Legionnaires' disease cases, reaching a total of 83 infections and 3 fatalities.
Breaking News: Outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease in New York City
New York City is currently grappling with an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacterium. As of the latest reports, at least 83 people have been affected, leading to 21 hospitalizations and three unfortunate deaths.
The incubation period for Legionnaires' disease is typically between 2 to 14 days, with most people developing symptoms between 2 and 10 days after exposure to the bacteria. Symptoms resemble those of pneumonia and include cough, fever, headaches, muscle aches, shortness of breath, chills, difficulty breathing, confusion, diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, malaise, and lethargy.
The disease has two forms: the pneumonic form, which is a severe lung infection with pneumonia symptoms, and the non-pneumonic form, also known as Pontiac disease, a milder, influenza-like illness. The pneumonic form can progress to respiratory failure or multi-organ failure and may be fatal, while the non-pneumonic form is generally non-fatal.
Treatment for Legionnaires' disease involves hospitalization for severe cases, diagnosis with chest X-ray, urine, or sputum tests to confirm the infection, and antibiotic therapy. However, it's important to note that there is currently no vaccine available to prevent the disease.
Prevention efforts focus on controlling bacterial growth in water systems, such as cooling towers and plumbing, by maintaining adequate biocide levels like chlorine and implementing water management practices to reduce exposure risk. At-risk groups include older adults, smokers, people with chronic lung disease, and those with weakened immune systems, while healthy individuals rarely get sick even if exposed.
The suspected source of the Legionella bacteria in this outbreak is a cooling tower. Since July 25, New York City's health department has tested "dozens" of cooling towers in Central Harlem. It's worth mentioning that reported cases of Legionnaires' disease may be lower than the actual cases due to the difficulty in distinguishing it from other types of pneumonia.
Building owners with towers that tested positive in initial screenings have been directed to carry out cleaning efforts, including using a chemical that kills the bacteria. Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse has advised anyone in the affected zip codes with flu-like symptoms to contact a health care provider as soon as possible.
It's crucial to remember that Legionnaires' disease cannot be spread from person to person and is not transmitted via drinking water. The disease can only be contracted by inhaling aerosolized contaminated water droplets.
Approximately 6,000 cases of Legionnaires' disease are reported each year in the United States, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. About 10% of people who get Legionnaires' disease die from complications of their illness, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story. If you have any questions or concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.
*In light of the ongoing Legionnaires' disease outbreak in New York City, it would be valuable to research the potential links between science and health-and-wellness, specifically investigating the causes and prevention strategies for this disease, including the role of neurological-disorders, if any, in its progression.
*Medical-conditions such as Legionnaires' disease underscore the importance of preventative measures in health-and-wellness, particularly in managing water systems to control the spread of pathogens, thereby reducing the risk of neurological-disorders and other complications associated with these diseases.
