1 death, 5 cases as New York City health officials report another Legionnaires' disease cluster
New York City health officials are investigating a new cluster of Legionnaires' disease in the South Bronx, which has resulted in five cases and one death. Authorities are currently testing cooling towers in the area to identify and disinfect the source of the bacteria.
Why it matters
Legionnaires' disease outbreaks pose a significant public health risk in urban environments, necessitating rapid identification of contaminated water systems to prevent further fatalities.
New York City is experiencing another cluster of Legionnaires' disease just weeks after a cluster exposure in Manhattan was declared over.
So far, five cases and one death have been recorded, the New York City Health Department said on Thursday. Health officials said they are waiting for results for other potential cases.
Cases have been detected in the 10451 and 10456 ZIP codes, which includes parts of Melrose and Morrisania in the South Bronx.
The health department said it is actively investigating the cluster and that testing is underway for samples collected among cooling towers in the area.
Health officials are advising clinicians to be on the lookout for possible cases and to conduct testing if the disease is suspected.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in