Two individuals have died and not less than 58 individuals have been identified with Legionnaires’ illness in a cluster that broke out within the Harlem space of New York City final week, officers stated on Monday.
The New York Metropolis Well being Division had reported on Thursday that one individual had died and 22 individuals had been sick within the cluster.
“Folks residing or working within the space with flu-like signs, resembling cough, fever, chills, muscle aches, or issue respiration ought to contact a well being care supplier instantly,” the division stated in an announcement on Monday. “It’s particularly necessary for individuals at greater danger — 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 sort of pneumonia that’s brought on by 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 incorporates 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 Appearing Well being Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. “Legionnaires’ illness will be successfully handled if identified early, however New Yorkers at greater danger, like adults aged 50 and older and those that smoke or have persistent lung circumstances, ought to be particularly conscious of their signs and search care as quickly as signs start.”
Legionnaires’ illness will be brought on by plumbing methods the place circumstances are favorable for Legionella development, resembling cooling towers, whirlpool spas, scorching tubs, humidifiers, scorching water tanks and evaporative condensers of enormous air-conditioning methods, well being officers stated.
Folks can get Legionnaires’ illness by inhaling water vapor that incorporates Legionella micro organism, although officers reminded those who the illness can’t be transmitted from individual to individual and will be handled with antibiotics.
The respiratory illness takes its identify from an outbreak on the Pennsylvania American Legion conference held on the Bellevue-Stratford Lodge 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.
