Share to ClassroomDangerous Lung Disease Spreads in New York
New York City has an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, a serious lung illness, in a part of Manhattan called the Upper East Side. The first case was found in late June. Since then, more people have become sick. Reports say between 28 and 46 people are ill. About 22 have gone to hospital, and some are very sick. But no one has died. Most sick people live or work in the same area.
The illness comes from bacteria— tiny living things— called Legionella. These bacteria grow in warm water, such as in cooling towers and air conditioners. People get sick by breathing in small drops of dirty water. The disease does not pass from one person to another. Officials say people can still drink tap water and take showers safely. They also say the risk of getting sick is very low.
The city has tested water in about 160 cooling towers. It told at least 19 buildings to clean their systems. Workers have not yet found where the bacteria came from. The illness is most dangerous for older people, smokers, and people who are already weak. Doctors treat it with medicine called antibiotics, which works best early. Officials asked people with a fever or cough to see a doctor soon.
