First Legionnaires' disease death reported after outbreak in New York

First Legionnaires' disease death reported after outbreak in New York The outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, a form of pneumonia, has infected at least 67 people in New York City so far and the first death has now been confirmed by officials A person has died after catching Legionnaires' disease, health officials said Friday. Investigators are still trying to pinpoint the source of the outbreak on Manhattan’s Upper East Side that has infected at least 67 people and hospitalized dozens, according to city Health Department data. Much of the scrutiny has focused on the air conditioning systems atop many large buildings, which can release water vapor carrying the bacteria. Officials have yet to release additional information about the person who died. Their identity, age or details on when and how they fell ill has not been disclosed. What is Legionnaires’ disease? Legionnaires’ disease, a form of pneumonia, is treatable but kills about 10% of patients, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last year, seven people died and more than 100 were sickened during an outbreak in New York’s Harlem neighborhood. City officials began tracking the current outbreak July 2, after two people were infected in the area. The city says tests have identified either living or dead Legionella bacteria — the micro-organisms that cause the disease — in cooling towers on more than 75 Upper East Side buildings. They include prominent museums, private schools and pricey apartment houses. It's not yet clear which, if any, of them contributed to the outbreak, but all the buildings were ordered to clean, drain and disinfect the cooling towers. They are devices sometimes used to cool large buildings. How you get Legionnaires' disease You can get Legionnaires' disease if you breathe in tiny droplets of water containing bacteria that cause the infection. It's usually caught in places like hotels, hospitals or offices where the bacteria have got into the water supply. It's less common to catch it at home. You can get Legionnaires' disease from things like: - air conditioning systems - humidifiers - spa pools and hot tubs - taps and showers that are not used often You cannot usually get it from: - drinking water that contains the bacteria - other people with the infection - places like ponds, lakes and rivers