Two people died and at least 58 people were diagnosed with legionaries in a cluster that broke out in the Harlem region in New York last week, officials announced on Monday.
The New York Health Department reported on Thursday that a person died and 22 people were sick in the cluster.
“People living or working in the region with pseudo-Grippal symptoms, such as coughs, fever, chills, muscle pain or difficulty breathing must immediately contact a health care provider,” the ministry said in a statement. “It is particularly important for people who are more at risk – including 50 and over, cigarette smokers and people with chronic pulmonary disease or compromised immune systems – to get care if they have symptoms.”
Legional pneumonaries ‘disease caused by Legionella bacteria, which develops in lukewarm water, have said health officials, and people can get legionaries’ disease, breathing water vapor which contains LEGIONELLA bacteria.
A view shows the horizon of the city center of Manhattan in New York, United States, July 22, 2025.
Kylie Cooper / Reuters
“Anyone in these postal codes with pseudo-scriple symptoms must contact a health care provider as soon as possible,” said the acting commissioner, Dr. Michelle Morse. “Legionaries’ disease can be treated effectively if diagnosed early, but New Yorkers at higher risk, such as adults aged 50 and over and those who smoke or have chronic pulmonary conditions, should be particularly attentive to their symptoms and request care from the start of symptoms.”
Legionaries’ disease can be caused by plumbing systems where conditions are favorable to the growth of Legionella, such as cooling towers, whirlpool spas, whirlpool, humidifiers, hot water tanks and evaporative condensers of major air conditioning systems, said health officials.
People can get legionaries’ disease by breathing water vapor that contains Legionella bacteria, although those responsible have reminded people that the disease cannot be transmitted from person to person and can be treated with antibiotics.
Respiratory disease takes its name from an epidemic at the Pennsylvania American Legion Convention held at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia in July 1976 and the bacteria that is responsible is in the soil and develops in water, such as air conditioning conduits, storage tanks and rivers.
No details on the two deceased was released by civil servants on Tuesday.