New York health officials are currently investigating what they believe to be an outbreak of Legionnaire's disease.
According to a report by CBS New York, the disease is currently attacking the residents of Bronx, primarily in Mott Haven, Hunts Point, Morrisania, and Highbridge. So far, it has already affected 31 people since it began on July 10. Two have died, although the state's department of health still wants to make sure that it is indeed the disease that has led to their demise.
Still, the current outbreak is a cause of concern for the health officials, wherein the increase in the number of cases has been described by the commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett as "unusual." The commissioner announced that the department is conducting a quick investigation to identify the source, contain the spread, and prevent the occurrence of other cases. In the meantime, she urges the public with symptoms to seek medical attention immediately. The disease is treatable when intervention is prompt.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, Legionnaire's disease is caused by bacteria called Legionella. It is a kind of atypical pneumonia. This means that the bacteria are not the same as the one that causes some of the most common types of pneumonia. However, the symptoms can be very similar.
These include coughing, shortness of breath, high fever, and headaches. The disease can also cause fatigue, diarrhea, disorientation and confusion, and appetite loss. It takes as short as 2 days for the first symptoms to appear. However, some people may contract the bacteria at least 10 days before the initial signs.
The disease is not transmitted from one person to another. Rather, the bacteria enter the body through contaminated droplets of water that may be inhaled by the person. In the Bronx outbreak, initial investigation led them to a cooling tower in one of the housing complexes, in which the results confirmed the presence of the bacteria. It has already been decontaminated. The bacteria may also grow in hot tubs, hot water tanks, fountains, and other water containers that have the tendency to get warm.