NYC Legionnaires' disease outbreak has killed 3 and sickened dozens. Here's how the city is responding.
New York City Department of Health inspectors are fanning out across Central Harlem to inspect cooling towers amid a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires' disease.
So far there have been 73 cases identified since July 25. Three of those patients have died.
The number of cases could rise, as people may have been exposed, but are not yet symptomatic.
"It can take up to two weeks in certain people. Some people it can take a couple of days, but for the most part, it's between two days to 14 days," said Tony Esselstyn, deputy chief medical officer at the Department of Health and Hygiene.
The outbreak began July 25, and is mostly contained to five Central Harlem zip codes: 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037 and 10039.
Cooling towers believed to be source of Legionnaires' outbreak
Legionnaires' disease is a severe and potentially deadly form of pneumonia.
It's not spread person-to-person, but rather through mist in the air. City officials believe cooling towers on the tops of 11 buildings are the source of the bacteria Legionella pneumophila, which grows in warm, stagnant water, causing the outbreak.
The towers atop those 11 buildings have since been cleaned.
"They sometimes can have Legionella growing inside of them. There is a special maintenance that each of these facilities uses and does on a regular basis, they prevent the colonization of their water systems with Legionella, but sometimes, even despite the best maintenance, this can still be a problem," said Dr. Aaron Glatt, Chair of Medicine and Chief of Infectious Diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital.
Mayor Eric Adams said building owners in the area have also been instructed to conduct inspections.
"We are having all of the buildings in the area inspect their cooling system to make sure that if there's any trace of Legionnaires' disease that they have to rectify the problem within 24 hours, which is very important," Adams said.
Officials hand out information in Harlem
Adams visited Harlem Wednesday afternoon, passing out flyers with more information about the disease.
"We just really wanted to just dispel all of the rumors by giving people information. Information is empowering," Adams said.
Adams is urging anyone in the impacted area with flulike symptoms to seek medical help. People at higher risk include those over age 50, and smokers. Symptoms include cough, fever, chills and trouble breathing.
Denise Merchant visited her sister Valerie at Harlem Hospital's Intensive Care Unit on Wednesday as she battles Legionnaires' disease.
"She just got out of ICU, and she still has pneumonia and it's affecting the brain, which is causing her not to be able to sleep," Merchant said.
She says her sister's symptoms kicked in last week.
"Friday, when I came over, she was a little out of it, and by Saturday, she was totally ... out of it," Merchant said. "So when we brought her to the emergency, they said ... she had pneumonia and an infection in sepsis."
Merchant says she doesn't know where her sister got Legionnaires' but is hopeful she will recover.
"I've been there every day, all day to make sure ... that she's OK," she said.
Legionnaires' disease can be treated with antibiotics. Complications are less likely if treatment begins early.
