Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak in Bronx Claims Second Life

A second person has died from Legionnaires' disease in an outbreak centered in the Bronx, New York City officials announced Thursday. The cluster has now infected 14 individuals. Of those, 11 have been hospitalized, with 10 having since been discharged.

Dr. Alister Martin, the city's health commissioner, shared the news on X, formerly Twitter. "We mourn the loss of each New Yorker, and our hearts are with their loved ones as they navigate this difficult time," Martin stated.

Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria, which thrives in warm, damp environments. The bacteria can become airborne in water vapor and inhaled by people, leading to infection. Common sources include air conditioning systems, hot tubs, and plumbing systems in large buildings.

At least 10 cooling towers in the Bronx, including those at Yankee Stadium, Lincoln Hospital, and Boricua College, tested positive for the bacteria. City officials confirmed these towers have since been cleaned and disinfected. However, it remains unclear where the affected individuals contracted the bacteria, and further testing is underway to determine if any cases are linked to recent events at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees organization previously stated that none of the current Legionnaires' cases in the area had been linked to the stadium.

Health officials are advising anyone living in, working in, or who has visited the Melrose and Morrisania sections of the Bronx to seek medical attention if they develop flu-like symptoms. Legionnaires' disease does not spread from person to person.

Symptoms of the disease typically begin with flu-like symptoms such as headache, muscle aches, and fever. These can progress to a cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia and sepsis, with approximately 10 percent of patients dying.

Antibiotics are used to treat the disease, with early intervention being most effective. Individuals over 50, smokers, those with chronic lung conditions, or those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk.

This outbreak follows a significant Legionnaires' disease cluster on the Upper East Side of Manhattan over the summer, which infected 94 people and resulted in 11 deaths. In August of the previous year, a Harlem outbreak sickened 114 people and caused seven deaths. That outbreak was linked to bacteria found in 12 cooling towers across 10 buildings.

Nationwide, reported cases of Legionnaires' disease have increased significantly over the past two decades, rising from approximately 1,100 cases in 2000 to over 8,000 annually. New York City typically records between 300 and 600 cases each year.