NEW YORK (PIX11) — A third person has died from Legionnaires’ disease, just one day after the New York City Health Department reported a second death.
The number of known cases has grown to 67, according to the NYC Health Department.
The cluster has been reported in ZIP codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037, 10039, and bordering communities, according to officials.
Anyone living or working in the area who experiences flu-like symptoms, including a cough, fever, chills, muscle aches, or difficulty breathing, should contact a health care provider immediately.
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by the bacterium Legionella, which thrives in warm water. People can contract Legionnaires’ disease by inhaling water vapor that contains Legionella bacteria.
The disease can be treated with antibiotics and cannot be transmitted from person to person.
Remediation has been completed on the 11 cooling towers that tested positive for Legionella last week, according to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.