(Adnkronos) – A Legionella outbreak has hit the Harlem neighborhood of New York, causing five deaths and 14 hospitalizations. According to the city’s Department of Health, the outbreak is linked to contaminated cooling towers.
“The New York City Department of Health is currently investigating a community cluster of Legionella in Central Harlem,” an official statement said. “As of August 18, 108 cases have been confirmed, five deaths and 14 people are still hospitalized.” Health authorities explained that the disease is not directly transmissible from person to person, but spreads through contaminated droplets and can cause fever and pneumonia, especially in people with weak immune systems. Samples taken from cooling towers in the area showed traces of the Legionella bacterium, and the plants that tested positive have already undergone the treatment prescribed by the authorities. The same clarified that the outbreak “is not related to the hot or cold water of the buildings”.
