Health officials sound alarm after deadly bacterial outbreak infects dozens in NYC neighbourhood.
As scientists continue monitoring global disease threats, New York City residents are facing a more immediate concern close to home.
A bacterial pneumonia outbreak has infected a total of 58 residents in NYC, leaving two people dead, health officials reported.
The disease is known as Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria.
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The outbreak is concentrated in Central Harlem and surrounding neighbourhoods, specifically affecting zip codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037, and 10039.
"Anyone in these zip codes with flu-like symptoms should contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible," said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse in an alert issued on 4 August.
What is causing the outbreak?
Legionella naturally occurs in freshwater environments like lakes and streams, but becomes dangerous when it grows in human-made water systems.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the bacteria can multiply in cooling towers, shower heads, hot tubs, fountains and plumbing systems.
In this case, health officials traced the source to contaminated cooling towers after testing revealed 11 systems tested positive for Legionella bacteria.
People become infected by breathing in or swallowing water droplets containing the bacteria. However, the CDC stressed that unlike many infectious diseases, Legionnaires' is not contagious.
What are the symptoms of Legionnaires' disease?
Symptoms usually appear two to 14 days after exposure and closely resemble severe flu, including cough, chills, muscle aches, fever or difficulty breathing. Some patients may also experience nausea, diarrhoea, and confusion.
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"The nature of the symptoms is not necessarily what differentiates Legionella from other causes, but history of exposure from ‘human-made reservoirs,’ though this may be hard to discern early on in infection and/or in an outbreak," said Dr. Nathan Goodyear, medical director of Brio-Medical in Arizona.
The CDC advises that anyone who is experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.
Who is most at risk of Legionnaires' disease?
The highest-risk categories include smokers, adults 50 and older, and people with chronic lung conditions.
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Those at risk should be 'mindful of their symptoms and seek care as soon as symptoms begin,' Dr. Morse warned.
"Other risk factors include advancing age, cardiovascular disease, obesity and compromised immune systems," Dr. Goodyear added.
How serious is Legionnaires' disease?
While most patients recover from Legionnaires' with antibiotic treatment, serious cases can lead to lung failure or death if not caught early.
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About 10% of people who contract the disease die from complications, with the mortality rate jumping to 25% for those who develop it while in healthcare facilities.
"Treatment needs to be early and aggressive," Dr. Goodyear stated. "Legionella infection is an intracellular infection that requires antibiotic treatment."
Most people with the disease will recover with a course of antibiotics, such as Levofloxacin and Azithromycin, the CDC said.
"Therapy can be prescribed orally in healthy individuals … but intravenous antibiotics often prove to be the initial option for treatment secondary to the pathogenicity of the disease," Dr. Goodyear continued.
Can Legionnaires' be prevented?
Currently, there are no vaccines for Legionnaires’ disease.
The CDC recommends that building owners implement water management strategies to reduce the risk and spread. To reduce the risk at home, experts advise ensuring that shower heads, faucets, hot tubs, and humidifiers are properly cleaned.