The Legionnaires disease outbreak captured news headlines, first in New York’s South Bronx and now, perhaps in an unrelated case, in Cleveland. So far, 11 people have died, including one in Cleveland, and 100 other cases have been diagnosed.
Here’s what you need to know about the disease:
What is Legionnaires disease?
It’s a form of pneumonia. Patients, who may not show signs or symptoms until a couple of days after exposure, usually have a fever, chills and a cough. It is spread by breathing in a mist (or consuming infected water) which contains legionella bacteria. The disease is not airborne, nor can it be passed from person to person.
After the disease’s onset, some patients experience muscle aches and pains, headaches, tiredness, loss of coordination, or gastrointestinal issues. The disease is also characterized by neurological symptoms, including confusion and impaired cognition.
The cases in New York have been linked to cooling towers. Since this discovery, health officials in the city ordered all buildings with cooling towers to have them decontaminated, which may curb the outbreak there.
Do I need to board my family up in the house?
Currently, no outbreak is suspected in the Tri-State. For anyone who is infected, the disease is easily diagnosed and can be treated with antibiotics. It only poses a serious risk to patients with underlying medical conditions or compromised immune systems.
If an outbreak does occur where you live or where you are traveling, listen to all warnings from the area’s Health Department as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
