Cases of a life-threatening lung disease are rising as officials report many of the patients are now hospitalized, with some in critical condition.
New York City is experiencing an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia spread through contaminated water vapor that kills one in 10 patients.
Fourteen cases were reported over the weekend, which grew to 18 on Sunday and grew further to 23 cases as of July 6.
Health Commissioner Dr Alister Martin said ‘many of them are hospitalized at this moment,’ with some in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
The city’s health department reports 17 hospitalizations. No deaths have been reported to date.
On Sunday, visitors to and residents of New York City‘s Central Park and several Upper East Side neighborhoods were told to watch for symptoms of legionnaires’ disease, which can include fever, chills, cough and body aches.
Officials said the zip codes affected by the outbreak were 10075 and 10028, which cover Yorkville, and 10128, which covers Carnegie Hill.
Almost all the patients live, work or recently visited the area.