The New York City Health Department is investigating a troubling cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases on the Upper East Side as officials work to determine what triggered the outbreak.
As of Thursday, two people had been diagnosed with the serious pneumonia-like illness in Carnegie Hill and Yorkville, and health officials said additional suspected cases may be confirmed once testing is complete.
City officials are urging anyone who has lived in, worked in or visited those Upper East Side neighborhoods since late June to contact a medical provider if they experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath.
Legionnaires’ disease can be deadly if treatment is delayed. However, it does not spread from person to person and can be treated with antibiotics, the Health Department said.
Adults age 50 and older, smokers, people with chronic lung conditions and those with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of becoming ill.
RELATED: Minneapolis Couple Faces Backlash Over Alleged Verbal Abuse of Somali Family
The illness is usually contracted by breathing in mist from water contaminated with Legionella bacteria, which can grow in building plumbing and thrive in cooling towers, hot tubs, whirlpool spas, humidifiers and condensers used in large air conditioning systems.
As part of the investigation, health officials will collect samples from cooling towers across the affected area. Any tower that tests positive for Legionella bacteria will require building owners to carry out full remediation.
The investigation follows a major Legionnaires’ outbreak in Harlem last summer that sickened 114 people, sent 90 to the hospital and was linked to seven deaths.
The Rev. Al Sharpton and lawyer Ben Crump previously claimed that up to 20 people — or nearly three times the official count — may have died during that outbreak due to misdiagnoses.
There have been no deaths associated with the current cluster of Legionnaires’ cases in Manhattan, according to health officials.
It is still safe to use air conditioners, cooling centers and city facilities, which are vital resources for city residents in the throes of an extreme heat wave this week.
Doctors have also been asked to remain alert and promptly report cases to the health department.
