Beginning on July 25, an outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease has been ongoing at several locations in Harlem, Upper Manhattan, including NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem.
At the time of this writing, over 100 cases and five deaths have been reported. The New York City Department of Health has confirmed the presence of the bacteria in 12 cooling towers serving 10 Central Harlem buildings, all of which have now been repaired. The bacteria has not been found in local plumbing or drinking water supplies, and residents of affected areas can still safely use tap water and air conditioning. A lawsuit has been filed against two construction companies holding them responsible for improper cleaning of the towers.
Named after the 1976 outbreak of the disease at the American Legion where scientists first identified it, Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by breathing in the infectious bacteria Legionella pneumophila. It is not contagious and cannot be spread from person to person; instead it is spread through contaminated bodies of fresh water, including but not limited to cooling towers, swimming pools, hot tubs and whirlpools, fountains, drinking water networks, centrally installed humidifiers, etc. Effective water management of such networks is necessary to prevent the spread of disease.
(Contact with contaminated soil can also spread Legionnaires’ disease.)
Symptoms typically begin 2-10 days after the initial infection, starting with head and/or muscle aches and high fever similar to the flu, and after the first 2-3 days progressing to:
● Cough (may be dry, may produce mucus and/or blood)
● Shortness of breath
● Nausea and vomiting
● Stomach pain
● Diarrhea
● Confusion and/or other cognitive changes
If you believe you may have contracted Legionnaires’ disease, talk to your healthcare provider as soon as possible. If not treated effectively, Legionnaires’ can progress and cause:
● Organ failure (specifically lung and kidney failure)
● Septic shock
● Death
People who are aged 50 and older, immunocompromised and/or suffering from respiratory illness, current or past smokers, recently stayed in a hospital or long-term care facility, or recently underwent organ transplant or other surgery requiring anesthesia are at increased risk for catching Legionnaires’ disease.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us anytime at info@gravityintprog.com. Stay safe and healthy!
