Latest news with #Legionnaires'
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Legionnaires' outbreak in NYC raises health alarm: Who's at risk?
An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease has been reported in Harlem, prompting New York City health officials to launch an investigation and urge residents to take precautions. As per the New York Post report, five people have been diagnosed with the illness in Manhattan. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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.
News18
a day ago
- Health
- News18
New York City Probes Legionnaires' Cluster In Harlem After Five Residents Fall Ill
Since last weekend, at least five cases have been confirmed and sent for further testing. Health officials in New York City have issued a warning urging residents to take precautionary measures after authorities identified at least five cases suspected to be Legionnaires' disease last week, the Department of Health stated in a press release. An investigation is currently underway to examine the cluster of Legionnaires' disease cases in Central Harlem and the surrounding areas. Since last weekend, at least five cases have been confirmed and sent for further testing. Additional individuals are undergoing tests to determine the full extent of those affected. Fortunately, there have been no reported deaths linked to the disease so far. To identify the source of the outbreak, health officials are sampling and testing water from all cooling tower systems within several neighbourhoods. According to the official notice, residents in the zip codes 10027, 10030, 10035, and 10037 are advised to exercise extra caution. 'Any New Yorkers experiencing flu-like symptoms should contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible," said Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Toni Eyssallenne in a statement, as reported by the New York Post. Mayo Clinic. The disease is treatable with antibiotics if diagnosed early. However, individuals over the age of 50, especially smokers or those with chronic lung conditions, are at higher risk of developing severe illness. To contain the spread, authorities are testing water sources such as cooling towers, hot tubs, whirlpool spas, humidifiers, and condensers. While Legionnaires' disease is typically not fatal, the Legionella bacterium can also cause Pontiac fever, a milder illness. If left untreated, however, Legionnaires' disease can be life-threatening. The New York State official website advises residents to seek medical attention if they experience flu-like symptoms but test negative for COVID-19. Symptoms usually appear 2 to 10 days after exposure and can include fever, headache, muscle pain, cough, shortness of breath, nausea, or diarrhoea. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: July 28, 2025, 17:03 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
Cluster Of Potentially Deadly Pneumonia-Like Cases Found In New York
Residents of Central Harlem in New York City have been advised to exercise caution after cases of Legionnaires' disease have been identified, prompting health authorities to launch an urgent investigation. The New York City Department of Health reported that since around July 25, five people have been diagnosed with the severe, pneumonia-like illness in the Manhattan neighbourhood, and test results for other suspected cases are pending, The New York Post reported. Although all confirmed patients required hospitalisation, no deaths have been reported in relation to the incidents thus far. The Health Department is conducting an intensive investigation into water sources in the affected ZIP codes (10027, 10030, 10035, and 10037) to identify potential environmental sources of Legionella bacteria. This investigation includes testing and sampling every cooling tower system in the region. Inhaling water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria, which thrive in warm water habitats such as cooling towers, large air conditioners, hot tubs, and humidifiers, is the primary cause of Legionnaires' disease. But the disease cannot be transmitted from person to person or through drinking water. "Any New Yorkers with flu-like symptoms should contact a health care provider as soon as possible," Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Toni Eyssallenne stated. According to Mr Eyssallenne, early diagnosis can effectively treat the condition. However, "adults aged 50 and older, those who smoke or have chronic lung conditions, should be particularly aware of their symptoms and seek care as soon as symptoms begin." Anyone exhibiting flu-like symptoms, notably cough, fever, or shortness of breath, should seek medical attention and express concerns about Legionnaires' disease, particularly if COVID-19 testing comes back negative, authorities said. The symptoms, which often start 2-10 days after exposure, include fever, headache, muscle aches, coughing, shortness of breath, and occasionally gastrointestinal issues, such as nausea or diarrhoea, according to the New York State official website. Early treatment with antibiotics is effective; delayed diagnosis can lead to major problems, and the death rate can increase to as much as 10 per cent in otherwise healthy people and higher in susceptible groups, it added.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
The common illness you could catch while sleeping on holidays – five signs to watch out for
THERE is a common illness you can catch while sleeping in hotels on holiday. The 1 Legionnaires' disease can cause severe illness and even death Credit: Alamy Legionnaires' disease is a serious lung infection caused by breathing in tiny water droplets that contain harmful bacteria. The HSE said it's a rare condition but when caught, it can be severe and often needs urgent Unknown to many, the illness is usually picked up in places like hotels, hospitals, office buildings or The bacteria spreads when still water sits in pipes or systems and is released into the air in small droplets. READ MORE IN HEALTH According to the HSE, you can get it from things like air conditioning units, humidifiers, spa pools and hot tubs. Even taps, toilets, showers, compost or potting mix can also pose a risk, especially in warm climates - making it more susceptible when you're on Health bosses said that catching Legionnaires' disease in your own home is very unusual, but not impossible. Legionnaires' disease symtoms High fever Persistent cough Muscle aches and pains Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Chest pain The illness usually starts off like the flu, with fever, tiredness, headaches and muscle pain before progressing to more serious symptoms such as a cough, difficulty breathing and a high temperature. MOST READ IN HEALTH If your doctor suspects it, you'll likely be sent to hospital for immediate treatment and given In severe cases, you might need oxygen through a mask or tubes if your breathing is affected as it can be fatal. Dad-of-two placed into coma after Turkey holiday as chef, 55, 'caught rare disease from dirty 4-star hotel' The HSE said most people make a full recovery, but it can take a few weeks to feel completely well again. To help prevent it, the Taps and showers that aren't often used should be turned on once a week for five to ten minutes to keep water flowing. PREVENTION STEPS And temperature checks are also crucial, with water at least 50 degrees for hot taps and 20 degrees or below for cold taps. Health bosses warned that Legionella bacteria thrives in lukewarm Building owners, hotels and workplaces are expected to follow water safety guidelines to stop outbreaks - but this can be overlooked in certain holiday destinations. Stagnant pipes, poor maintenance or unused water systems can create ideal conditions for the disease to spread. The HSE advises staying alert to early flu-like symptoms if you've been in a high-risk setting. Legionnaires' disease can become very serious if left untreated and the best defence is regularly flushing your pipes and controlling water temperature. If your symptoms progress and you are unable to contact your
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Young and the Restless spoilers: Cole dies! Victoria and Claire find grief support in their next romantic connections?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Sadly, the moment we predicted has finally arrived on The Young and the Restless in the episode airing July 3. Cole (J. Eddie Peck) dies from complications of his Legionnaires' disease diagnosis, leaving Victoria (Amelia Heinle) and Claire (Hayley Erin) devastated. Backing up for a moment, the episode kicks off with Victoria and Claire at Cole's bedside. Cole insists that it's time they all said their 'goodbyes,' but Claire just isn't able to do it, so she leaves the hospital room. Victoria, on the other hand, remains by his side. After acknowledging that he knows Victoria will take care of their daughter when he's gone, he promises to see Victoria in the afterlife. She kisses him one last time before he flatlines. When Victoria and Claire arrive back at the Newman tackhouse later, they attempt to comfort one another before Claire makes her way upstairs for some alone time. She tries to reach out to Kyle (Michael Mealor) for the umpteenth time, but again, he doesn't answer the phone. Not for nothing, Kyle, along with the other party guests on Cane's (Billy Flynn) estate, still don't have phone service. With Claire being unable to reach Kyle, and Victoria not able to find comfort in Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott), Victor (Eric Braeden) or Nick (Joshua Morrow), who are all abroad with Kyle, we think the mother/daughter duo may seek support during their time of grief elsewhere. Sure, they'll rely on each other quite a bit, but Claire and Victoria will probably want someone to talk to who isn't as close to this situation. In terms of Claire, we think she's about to run straight into the arms of Holden (Nathan Owens). After helping her with her recent panic attack, he was already aware of Cole's deteriorating health, and he proved to be a solid shoulder for her to cry on. He's likely the perfect person to console her while Kyle is away. Here's the thing, though. Although Holden and Claire are friends, we've noticed the potential for more between them for a while. If her mind becomes so clouded with grief, it's possible she allows herself to engage in a little more than flirtatious banter. While we thought Kyle would be the first one to cheat in their relationship by having an affair with Audra (Zuleyka Silver), Claire could certainly surprise me. (It's also possible that Kyle does cheat first, Claire finds out about it and then turns to Holden for a night of romance herself, but that's a theory worth exploring on another day.) When it comes to Victoria, we found it rather interesting that since her family has been away, the one person she's talked to about Cole is her ex, Nate (Sean Dominic). He was great at providing her with some peace of mind, and the two even acknowledged that the past is the past and they're friends again. So could Nate be her next great love? This is harder to picture because of the baggage between the two, but we believe it's in the realm of strong possibility. Yes, he's currently in a loving relationship with Audra. However, the writing is on the wall for that pairing to crash and burn. Audra keeps lying. She lied about her past and residual feelings for Holden, she lied about her true deal with Victor and she's lying (maybe even to herself) about the lengths she's willing to go to in order to trap Kyle. Again, we see her and Kyle cheating with one another, which doesn't bode well for her relationship with Nate. So if Nate comforts Victoria during this difficult time, the groundwork of their deep connection is bound to be strengthened. Now for those questioning if Nate would really reunite with Victoria, given how they ended the last time because of Victor's interference, we think the former doctor would. Look how many times Billy (Jason Thompson) threw caution to the wind and reunited with Victoria, despite Victor's strong disapproval and interference. Plus, things would be different this go-around with Nate no longer working at Newman Enterprises. Victor may be less apprehensive about Nate if he isn't his employee. At this juncture, we can only theorize what's next for Claire and Victoria. However, we hope some sunshine comes after this heavy bit of rain. New episodes of The Young and the Restless air weekdays on CBS. Episodes become available to stream on Paramount Plus the next day. Solve the daily Crossword
