Legionnaires' outbreak in NYC raises health alarm: Who's at risk?
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While no deaths have occurred, the city's health department is advising New Yorkers, especially those at higher risk, to stay alert for symptoms and seek medical care early.
'
Any New Yorkers with flu-like symptoms should contact a health care provider as soon as possible,' said Dr. Toni Eyssallenne, the city's deputy chief medical officer. 'Legionnaire's disease can be effectively treated if diagnosed early.'
What is Legionnaires' disease?
The bacterium L. pneumophila was first identified in 1977, as the cause of an outbreak of severe pneumonia in a convention centre in the USA in 1976.
It is a serious type of pneumonia caused by
Legionella
bacteria. The infection typically spreads when people breathe in water droplets contaminated with the bacteria, often from sources like showers, hot tubs, cooling towers, or plumbing systems in large buildings.
While it is not contagious and cannot spread from person to person, it can, however, be life-threatening without timely treatment.
People with high risk include- older adults, smokers, and individuals with chronic lung conditions.
A milder form of the illness, called Pontiac fever, causes flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle aches, and typically clears within a week.
Death occurs through progressive pneumonia with respiratory failure and/or shock and multi-organ failure.
Symptoms to watch for
Symptoms usually appear 2 to 14 days after exposure and may include:
Persistent cough
High fever
Headaches and muscle pain
Shortness of breath
Nausea, diarrhea, or confusion in some cases
As per the CDC, the illness is treatable with antibiotics, but early diagnosis is key to recovery.
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How it spreads
Globally, waterborne Legionella pneumophila is the leading cause of both isolated cases and outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease. This bacterium, along with related species, is commonly found in natural water sources such as lakes, rivers, creeks, and hot springs. Other species, like L. longbeachae, are typically found in potting soil and gardening mixes.
Other outbreaks have been linked to: public bathhouses, cooling towers, water tanks, fountains, swimming pools, and drinking water systems.
Infections most commonly happen when people inhale mist or vapor carrying the bacteria, though it can also spread via aspiration, when contaminated water accidentally enters the lungs.
As per the World Health Organization(WHO), since many countries lack appropriate methods of diagnosing the infection or sufficient surveillance systems, the rate of occurrence is unknown. In Europe, Australia, and the USA, there are approximately 10–15 cases detected per million population per year.
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