A second person has now died and more than 50 people have fallen ill as part of a growing Legionnaires' outbreak in Harlem, city health officials reported Monday.
The disease was initially detected on July 25; since then, two people have died and 58 people have been diagnosed, according to the New York City Health Department."
Officials urged people in the area with "demonstrated exposure" to monitor symptoms and see a healthcare provider as soon as possible.
All cooling towers that are operating in the impacted area have been sampled, and the Health Department has told owners of buildings where positive results were found to initiate remediation within a day.
Legionnaires' disease is not transmitted from person to person, and is treatable with antibiotics. It spreads by breathing in water vapor containing the Legionella bacteria. Conditions for the bacteria to grow are favorable in things like cooling towers, whirlpool spas, hot tubs, humidifiers, hot water tanks and condensers of large air-conditioning systems.
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