Rare disease spreads through air conditioning system in New York
Legionella bacteria cause Legionnaires’ disease – Photo: USA TODAY
According to
USA Today
, since July 25, at least 67 people in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, USA have been infected with Legionella bacteria – the cause of Legionnaires’ disease. Of the cases, 24 have been hospitalized, 3 have died.
This is the largest outbreak in New York in a decade. New York health officials say the numbers
will continue to rise in the coming time.
The cause is believed to be due to improper maintenance of cooling towers in apartment buildings, allowing bacteria to grow in stagnant water.
When the air conditioning system is running, bacteria are released into the air, people inhale it and get sick.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious pneumonia that is not spread from person to person but can easily break out in clusters when
are spread through the air.
If properly diagnosed, the disease can be treated with antibiotics, however flu-like symptoms are often overlooked.
The disease, once rare, is on the rise in the United States. Cases have increased ninefold since 2000, largely due to hot, humid weather and poor infrastructure.
People at high risk include older adults, smokers, and people with chronic lung disease.
Experts stress that cities need to upgrade and better maintain their cooling infrastructure because current systems are no longer suitable for extreme weather conditions caused by climate change.
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