A deadly Legionnaires' disease outbreak in New York City has set health and community leaders on a campaign to educate the public on ways to prevent the bacteria from growing and spreading. 

Health leaders hit the streets of Harlem for a third straight day Friday with fliers urging people to take precautions as the number of infections continues to rise. 

It comes a day after City Councilmember Yusef Salaam, New York State Sen. Cordell Cleare, Assemblyman Jordan Wright, and Dr. Michelle Morse, the interim commissioner of NYC Health, held a news conference updating on the outbreak and the city's effort to contain it. 

Legionnaires' disease in Central Harlem

Three people have died out of more than 80 cases since the Central Harlem Legionnaires' disease cluster was discovered on July 25, according to NYC Health.

As of Friday, the number of people infected had risen to 23, including 21 who were hospitalized, health officials said. It's feared the number of cases will continue to grow as others who were exposed may not yet be symptomatic.

Legionnaires' is a severe and potentially deadly form of pneumonia that grows in warm, stagnant water and spreads through mist in the air. It does not spread from person to person. Symptoms include cough, fever, chills, muscle aches and shortness of breath.   

Officials believe they traced the outbreak to cooling towers on 11 buildings in Central Harlem. Last week, the infected towers underwent antibacterial treatments to stop the Legionella bacteria from spreading, the interim health commissioner said. 

"These cooling towers spray mist or droplets, and that mist is outdoors and can carry bacteria," Morse said. "Right now the risk to Central Harlem's community at large is not limited to any specific buildings." 

"It's clear to us from all of our investigations and our data surveillance that there are cases across multiple different areas," she added. 

"I want Harlem residents to know that my office is working closely in coordination with the mayor's office and the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to ensure that every contaminated cooling tower is remedied immediately and that ongoing testing is conducted throughout Harlem," Salaam said.  

Morse said the buildings' plumbing systems were not impacted and that resident should feel comfortable to drink water, cook and shower. 

Do not assume you have a cold, official says

So far, Legionnaires' cases have been found in these Central Harlem zip codes: 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037 and 10039. Officials said anyone with symptoms in these neighborhoods should see a health care provider and not assume they simply have a cold. 

"This is not the time to say, 'let me just go to the grocery store and get some ginger ale and let me lay up somewhere.' This is the time for you to actually go and seek medical attention. That's how serious this is," Salaam said.

Tony Esselstyn, NYC Health's deputy chief medical officer, said it could take up to two weeks for certain people to show symptoms. While most people are at a low risk, Legionella poses a greater threat to smokers and people over 50.   

Meanwhile, Cleare said she now plans to introduce legislation strengthening laws on cooling tower inspections by requiring more testing and raising fines on those who do not comply.

"This legislation will make five major reforms, including requiring immediate mitigation, more frequent testing and inspections, and even increasing fines if there are violations. This is too important. This is our lives we are talking about," the state senator said.

Cleare will also host a webinar on Tuesday, July 12, at 6 p.m. to answer questions about the outbreak.

The health department said Friday it will work in conjunction with the mayor's office to hold more community outreach events in the coming days.