Two people have died and 31 others were afflicted in an outbreak caused by the Legionnaires' disease. The city officials from New York City Health Department were closely monitoring the situation particularly in the South Bronx area where most cases have been reported from.
The Legionnaires' disease is an inflammation of the lungs related to pneumonia, and caused by the Legionella bacteria. People who contracted it can show symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle pains, headache and confusion.
According to Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett, the disease is not transmissible via person to person, and it is not uncommon and remediable.
"We are conducting a swift investigation to determine the source of the outbreak and prevent future cases," Wall Street Journal quoted Bassett as saying.
The commissioner has expressed concern over the unexpected surge in the number of patients from South Bronx. They may be dealing with something that's still developing, and numbers could still vary according to her.
She urges the local residents to seek immediate medical help upon manifestation of the symptoms.The disease could develop between two days to over a week upon exposure to the Legionella bacteria. Early detection is vital for successful treatment and early recovery.
The origin of the outbreak is still unknown, but the city health officials have been conducting tests of the cooling towers and other potential source within the area, New York Daily News reported.
Meanwhile, Mayor Bill de Blasio said he was grateful that the Legionnaires' disease is treatable, especially with early detection.