NEW YORK (AP) — New York Metropolis well being officers have found a seventh loss of life linked to a Legionnaires’ illness outbreak in Central Harlem, the place greater than 100 folks have been identified with the ailment.
The newest loss of life was introduced Thursday. Officers stated they’d concluded the loss of life of an individual with the illness who died earlier than mid-August is related to the cluster.
Officers stated 114 folks have been identified with Legionnaires’ illness as of Thursday, whereas six individuals are hospitalized.
The micro organism that causes Legionnaires’ illness had been found in 12 cooling towers on 10 buildings, together with a city-run hospital and sexual well being clinic, well being officers stated. Remediation efforts have since been accomplished on the entire cooling towers.
Legionnaires’ illness is a kind of pneumonia that’s attributable to Legionella micro organism, which develop in heat water and unfold via constructing water techniques. The town’s outbreak has been linked to cooling towers, which use water and a fan to chill buildings.
Individuals normally develop signs — a cough, fever, complications, muscle aches and shortness of breath — between two days and two weeks after publicity to the micro organism, in response to the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
Metropolis well being officers say individuals who reside or work within the space ought to contact a well being care supplier in the event that they develop flu-like signs.
