Experts reveal how to avoid deadly Legionnaires' disease as NYC outbreak kills 5 - Fox News

New York City is investigating a Legionnaires' disease outbreak on the Upper East Side, which as of July 21 has caused five deaths and 82 diagnoses, with eight patients still hospitalized.
Officials reported no new cases in the previous six days, suggesting the source of exposure has likely been eliminated, though the investigation continues.
Legionnaires' disease is a serious form of pneumonia spread by tiny water droplets containing Legionella bacteria, according to the CDC, with symptoms including cough and fever.
Common infection sources include contaminated building water systems such as cooling towers, hot tubs and plumbing, and cases have also occurred on cruise ships and in spas; the disease generally does not spread from person to person.
Dr. Dana Mordue of New York Medical College explained that people typically become infected by breathing in aerosolized contaminated water droplets, though infection is also possible by aspirating contaminated water into the lungs.
Experts emphasize that early antibiotic treatment and proper water management in cooling towers and plumbing can prevent severe illness, and outbreaks are most often tied to water systems in commercial-type buildings rather than homes.