What is Legionnaires' disease and how do you get it? Pneumonia-like outbreak sweeps Harlem, killing two
The pneumonia-like illness, first detected on July 25, has been reported in zip codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037 and 10039, as well as and neighboring communities.
'The risk to most people is low, but if you live or work around these ZIP codes and have flu-like symptoms, see a health care provider right away,' the New York City Health Department urged.
Here's everything you need to know about the potentially deadly infection.
4 Legionnaires' disease is most commonly reported in the summer and early fall.
Tetiana – stock.adobe.com
What is Legionnaires' disease?
It's a severe form of pneumonia caused by legionella bacteria infecting the lungs.
Though considered rare, Legionnaires' disease is on the rise in the US, with reported cases increasing nine-fold since 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Each year, an estimated 8,000 to 18,000 Americans are hospitalized with the infection, but experts believe the true number is likely much higher because many cases going undiagnosed.
How do you get Legionnaires'?
While legionella can be found naturally in lakes, streams and soil, it can turn deadly when it grows in man-made water systems.
The bacteria often thrives in places like cooling towers, decorative fountains, whirlpools, hot tubs, humidifiers, hot water tanks and large air-conditioning systems, city officials said.
Most people catch Legionnaires' disease by inhaling tiny water droplets contaminated with legionella, often from sources like shower spray or accidentally breathing in water while drinking, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
4 The disease is typically transferred through water supplies contaminated with Legionella bacteria.
The good news: It doesn't spread from person-to-person.
In regards to the Harlem outbreak, city health officials have pointed to cooling towers as the likely source, with 11 of them testing positive for legionella.
These towers help regulate temperatures in cooling systems like central air conditioning and refrigeration. Officials reassured residents in the affected zip codes that their tap water is safe to drink, and they can continue bathing, showering, cooking and using air conditioning at home.
As of August 4, all 11 contaminated cooling towers have been cleaned and cleared, the health department confirmed.
What are the symptoms of Legionnaires' disease?
Symptoms usually appear 2 to 10 days after exposure to legionella bacteria, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The infection often starts with a headache, muscle pain and fever that can climb as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
4 Once in the lungs, Legionella bacteria can cause inflammation and damage, leading to pneumonia.
Axel Kock – stock.adobe.com
Within a few days, symptoms can get worse and may include:
A cough that sometimes produces mucus or blood
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
Confusion or other mental changes
Legionnaires' disease primarily targets the lungs but can also lead to infections in wounds and other areas of the body, including the heart.
A milder form, known as Pontiac fever, causes fever, chills, headaches, and muscle aches. Unlike Legionnaires', Pontiac fever does not affect the lungs and typically resolves within a week.
Can it be treated?
Fortunately, antibiotics can clear the infection and are usually paired with rest, fluids and, in severe cases, oxygen to help ease symptoms.
4 Legionnaires' disease is a growing problem in the US and around the globe.
Getty Images
'Legionnaires' disease can be effectively treated if diagnosed early, but New Yorkers at higher risk, like adults aged 50 and older and those who smoke or have chronic lung conditions, should be especially mindful of their symptoms and seek care as soon as symptoms begin,' Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse said.
With prompt treatment, most people make a full recovery, although it may take a few weeks to feel completely back to normal.
The overall fatality rate for Legionnaires' disease is about 10%, but it's higher among hospitalized patients, seniors and those with underlying health conditions.
When was NYC's last outbreak?
Out of the city's 8.5 million residents, between 200 and 700 are diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease each year, according to the health department.
Areas hit hardest tend to have older populations and higher poverty rates.
The last major outbreak happened in summer 2022, when at least five people died at a Manhattan nursing home.
It was the city's deadliest Legionnaires' incident since 2015, when a contaminated Bronx cooling tower was linked to 16 deaths — sparking a wave of new regulations aimed at preventing future outbreaks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
14 minutes ago
- Newsweek
The Ultra-Processed Foods Adding Most Calories to US Diet
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Americans consume more than half their calories from ultra-processed food with burgers, sandwiches, sweet bakery products and savory snacks among the biggest contributors, according to a new federal report. The study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that Americans aged one year and older got an average of 55 percent of their daily intake from such food. While nutrition research has shown for years that ultra-processed foods make up a big chunk of the US diet, the CDC has for the first time confirmed those high levels of consumption, using dietary data collected from August 2021 to August 2023. Why it Matters The new CDC report used the most common definition of ultra-processed foods. based on the four-tier Nova system that classifies foods according to the amount of processing they undergo. Such foods tend to be "hyperpalatable, energy-dense, low in dietary fiber and contain little or no whole foods, while having high amounts of salt, sweeteners and unhealthy fats," the CDC report said. A CDC graph showing the top five sources of calories from ultra-processed foods among youth were sandwiches (including burgers), which contributed 7.6 percent of total calories, followed by sweet bakery products (6.3 percent), savory snacks... A CDC graph showing the top five sources of calories from ultra-processed foods among youth were sandwiches (including burgers), which contributed 7.6 percent of total calories, followed by sweet bakery products (6.3 percent), savory snacks (4.9 percent), pizza (4.7 percent), and sweetened beverages (3.9 percent) More Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Previous studies have linked ultra-processed food to obesity, diabetes and heart disease, but they haven't been able to prove that the foods directly cause those chronic health problems. One small but influential study found that even when diets were matched for calories, sugar, fat, fiber and micronutrients, people consumed more calories and gained more weight when they ate ultra-processed foods than when they ate minimally processed foods. While the CDC report noted a modest decline in consumption among adults (from 55.8 percent to 53 percent) and youth (from 65.6 percent to 61.9 percent) over the past decade, health officials caution that these foods remain a dominant source of calories in the American diet. The report has been published amid growing scrutiny of such foods with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr telling Fox earlier this year, "We are poisoning ourselves, and it's coming principally from these ultra-processed foods." What To Know The CDC report highlighted consumption of ultra-processed food was notably higher among youth (aged 1—18), who received nearly 62 percent of their daily calories from such foods, compared to 53 percent for adults. Among youth, the top sources of calories from ultra-processed foods were: Sandwiches (including burgers)—7.6 percent of total calories Sweet bakery products—6.3 percent Savory snacks—4.9 percent Pizza—4.7 percent Sweetened beverages—3.9 percent For adults, the leading contributors were: Sandwiches (including burgers)—8.6 percent of total calories Sweet bakery products—5.2 percent Sweetened beverages—4.4 percent Savory snacks—3.4 percent Breads, rolls, and tortillas—3.1 percent Analysis also showed consumption of ultra-processed foods was higher among lower income adults and among younger people, with adults 60 and older and young children consuming fewer calories from these sources. A CDC graph showing overall mean percentage of total calories consumed from ultra-processed foods among those age 1 year and older was 55 percent during August 2021—August A CDC graph showing overall mean percentage of total calories consumed from ultra-processed foods among those age 1 year and older was 55 percent during August 2021—August Centers for Disease Control and Prevention What People Are Saying Anne Williams, co-author of the report and CDC nutrition expert, said: "The results were not surprising," but added, "consumption of ultra-processed foods appeared to dip slightly over the past decade." Williams said she could not speculate on the reasons for the decline or whether consumption of less processed foods had increased. Andrea Deierlein, a nutrition expert at New York University who was not involved in the research, stated: "People are trying, at least in some populations, to decrease their intakes of these foods," highlighting possible growing awareness among Americans about the potential harms of ultra-processed food. What Happens Next U.S. health officials recently said there are concerns over whether current definitions of ultra-processed foods "accurately capture" the range of foods that may affect health. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Agriculture Department recently issued a request for information to develop a new, uniform definition of ultra-processed foods for products in the U.S. food supply. This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
Newsweek
14 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Millions Urged To Avoid Driving
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Millions of Americans have been urged to avoid driving amid concerns over high air pollution levels. Air quality alerts were issued across parts of Illinois, Colorado, Wyoming, and Arizona on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The warnings mean ground-level ozone and particulate concentrations are forecast to reach dangerous levels. In some areas, the pollution comes from drifting wildfire smoke. Why It Matters The NWS warned that both sensitive groups—such as children, seniors, and individuals with preexisting respiratory or heart conditions—and the general public might experience health effects linked to poor air quality in the affected regions. "Increasing likelihood of respiratory symptoms in sensitive individuals, aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in people with cardiopulmonary disease and older adults," the NWS said in its alert. "People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion." Haze from a Canadian wildfire blankets the Chicago area in July. Haze from a Canadian wildfire blankets the Chicago area in July. Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times/AP What To Know In Colorado, an Action Day for Multiple Pollutants has been issued for Thursday until 4 p.m. MT for the Front Range Urban Corridor, covering cities including Denver and Boulder. "Hot weather and incoming wildfire smoke will allow particulate matter and ozone to reach the unhealthy [level] for sensitive groups category on Wednesday and Thursday," the NWS said. "If possible, please help us reduce ozone pollution by limiting driving gas and diesel-powered vehicles until at least 4 p.m." In Arizona, an ozone high pollution advisory has been issued for the Phoenix Metro Area. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) said in the NWS alert notice: "You are urged to car pool, telecommute or use mass transit. The use of gasoline-powered equipment should be reduced or done late in the day." In Illinois, an Air Pollution Action Day has been issued for the greater Chicago Metropolitan Area until midnight. This means that ozone and particulate levels are expected to be at or above the level that poses health risks to sensitive groups. "Active children and adults, especially people with pulmonary or respiratory disease such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor activity," the NWS said. In Wyoming, an air quality alert for wildfire smoke has been issued for portions of the southeast, including the cities of Laramie and Cheyenne, until noon. What People Are Saying The ADEQ said in the NWS alert notice: "Ozone is an air contaminant which can cause breathing difficulties for children, older adults, as well as persons with respiratory problems. A decrease in physical activity is recommended." The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said: "If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and older adults. "Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. If visibility is less than five miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy." Jonathan Grigg, a professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine at Queen Mary University of London, previously told Newsweek that there are "very clear links" between inhaling particles and earlier death from both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. He added: "There are vulnerable groups and classically they are children because they've got an extra issue to do with their lungs developing, whereas our lungs are not developing as adults." What Happens Next The air quality alerts are currently set to remain in force until Thursday afternoon and evening. Regular updates regarding air pollution levels are issued on the NWS website and on the Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow interactive map.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
This Clip Of Pete Buttigieg Breaking Down All The Ways The Trump Administration Is Making Your Life Worse Is Going Viral
Former secretary of transportation Pete Buttigieg is being applauded online for his recent, simple breakdown on all the ways Donald Trump's chosen cabinet is negatively impacting Americans' lives. While sitting down for NPR's Morning Edition, Pete insisted that Democrats need to change their approach if they want to reach voters. "We do have to look at what we're doing that makes it hard to hear what we have to say," he told host Steve Inskeep. "Too often we talk in terms that are academic. When we're talking about deeply important things, like freedom and democracy, we still have to have a way of talking about it that relates to how everyday life is different." Related: As an example, Pete shared ways our "everyday life is different and worse" under Trump's presidency, because, as he said, "When you have an autocrat in power, he can get away with appointing incompetent people over very important things in our lives." To start, he said, "Right now we have the secretary of defense — in charge of defending the American people — who was accidentally texting military strike information to journalists." This, of course, is in reference to reporting from the Atlantic that claimed the magazine's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat where former Fox & Friends Weekend host, now Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, discussed sensitive war plans. "We have the person in charge of American public health, who is a quack who doesn't believe in medicine, and now measles is on the rise in America," he continued. Here, Pete is referring to Health Secretary RFK Jr., who commonly and vocally questions the safety of vaccines and even suggested the measles vaccine causes autism in children. Now, 20 years after measles was declared to be eliminated in the United States, outbreaks are popping up around the US as the public grows skeptical of vaccines under the new administration. Related: "We have a secretary of education — in charge of your kid's educational well-being — who has spoken about the importance of 'A1,' which means she does not understand that the acronym is AI, which means she does not understand the most important development affecting education in our lifetimes." Education Secretary Linda McMahon — yes, the former CEO of WWE — confused AI technology with A1, the name of a popular steak sauce. While speaking at a summit in April, McMahon said, "A school system that's going to start making sure that first graders, or even pre-Ks, have A1 teaching in every year. That's a wonderful thing!" Pete continued, "We have a secretary of homeland security who sat on funding and did not allow it to go to Texas during the floods for at least two days for no good reason." Finally, we have Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who reportedly decided to enact a rule requiring her personal sign-off on any grant or contract over $100,000. The move was heavily criticized amid the deadly flooding in Texas earlier this year, as some argue the signature delayed getting aid to those who needed it. Related: "So these things do affect you," Pete concluded. "Not for academic reasons, but because of what happens when you have a loss of accountability. Those are the kinds of things I think we need to talk about before anybody can hear us." A clip of Pete's simple yet effective explanation was shared to X, formerly known as Twitter, where it garnered over 1.7 million views and over 1,000 comments. By and large, people are calling Pete's breakdown "brilliant." One person said, "This breakdown of the incompetence of the administration is simple yet brilliant. And the reality of how they're affecting peoples' REAL lives is heartbreaking and infuriating." "Last thirty seconds should be mandatory listening," another agreed. "The loss of accountability over trumps horrible yes men stooge picks for cabinet undeniably makes your life worse as an American. It isn't up for debate." Others called Pete "the best communicator in US politics"... Related: ...and insisted, "This is who We The People employ!!!" Talks like this have made Pete a favorite amongst voters looking to the future of the Democratic Party. And even some abroad. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments. Also in In the News: Also in In the News: Also in In the News:
