The NYC Health Department reports investigating a likely community cluster of Legionnaires’ disease in parts of Melrose and Morrisania in the South Bronx.
Originally, the affected ZIP codes were 10451 and 10456, Now officials added ZIP codes 10455 and 10459 after identifying cases within a few blocks of ZIP code 10456.
Currently, 19 people have tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease and two deaths were reported.
Anyone who lives or works in the four affected ZIP codes, or who has visited the area since late August, is urged to contact a health care provider immediately if they develop flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing.
Legionnaires’ disease: A personal story
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia. It is caused by bacteria (Legionella) that grow in warm water. Legionnaires’ disease causes flu-like symptoms, and complications from the disease can be serious and even fatal, if left untreated.
People who breathe in water vapor (mist) that contains Legionella bacteria can get sick.
Most people who are exposed to the bacteria do not develop Legionnaires’ disease. Illness usually occurs after high or repeated exposure, especially in people who are at increased risk.
Legionnaires’ disease is not contagious — you cannot get it from someone else. You cannot get Legionnaires’ disease by drinking water, cooking, or using air conditioning. The bacteria that cause Legionnaires’ disease does not spread through cooled air from air conditioners.
You are at an increased risk for Legionnaires’ disease if you:
Are age 50 or older
Smoke or vape
Have chronic heart, lung, kidney, or liver disease or diabetes
Have a weakened immune system due to a medical condition or medication
When there are multiple people in a neighborhood with Legionnaires’ disease (community cluster), common sources of exposure are cooling towers, hot tubs, and spray fountains.
At other times, when there are multiple people with Legionnaires’ disease who live in the same building (building cluster), the exposure is typically related to a building’s plumbing system — most often the hot water system. When this happens, a building’s residents can be exposed through water mist when they shower.
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