One person has died in the ongoing outbreak of Legionnaires\u2019 disease on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the health authorities announced on Friday.<\/p>\n
So far, the outbreak, which was detected earlier this month, has infected 67 people, although the number of new cases has declined in the past week. This is the first death.<\/p>\n
The health authorities did not provide the name of the person who died or any other information.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am saddened to report that one person has died in connection with the Legionnaires\u2019 disease community cluster on the Upper East Side,\u201d said Dr. Alister F. Martin, the city\u2019s health commissioner, in a statement. \u201cMy deepest condolences are with their loved ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
Legionnaires\u2019 disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by bacteria that thrive in warm, stagnant water. In New York City, outbreaks are periodically caused by rooftop cooling towers \u2014 part of the air-conditioning and refrigeration systems that keep large New York City buildings cool in the summer. Fans that are part of the cooling towers can send water vapor into the air. Sometimes that water vapor is laden with Legionella bacteria \u2014 the pathogen that causes Legionnaires\u2019 disease.<\/p>\n
The vapor can drift into the streets below, where passers-by may inhale it. Those particles may pose little risk to someone in good health. But they can lead to severe pneumonia in older people and those with certain chronic underlying conditions. Those with Legionnaires\u2019 disease often experience a high fever and a cough. A headache, chest pain and altered mental status are also among the symptoms.<\/p>\n
In recent weeks, the health authorities have been testing cooling towers across several Upper East Side ZIP codes to determine which ones are teeming with Legionella bacteria and could be linked to the outbreak. The health authorities say further testing is needed to determine its source. Dozens of property owners have been ordered to drain and disinfect their buildings\u2019 cooling towers in the meantime.<\/p>\n
There are signs that the outbreak may be near its end. In early July, it was typical for five to 10 new cases to be diagnosed a day. New cases have declined significantly to about one a day.<\/p>\n
Most of the 67 people infected in the outbreak were hospitalized and have since been discharged. But 12 patients remained hospitalized as of Thursday night, according to the health authorities.<\/p>\n