Overview:
Legionnaires’ disease has spread throughout New York City. Quite a few people have contracted it while others have died from it. These incidents have rose public attention and conversations among New York’s elected official and medical professionals. What do the implications of this virus’s spread have for New York, and the rest of the country, at large.
A contagious virus-Legionnaires’ disease has invaded the sanctuaries of New York City. Its residents and health officials are on guard in the midst of the outbreak.
News of Legionnaires’ disease’s outbreak in Central Harlem, New York spread in July 2025. Particularly in the zip codes-10027, 10030, 10035, 10037, and 10039. Nearly 70 people have been infected with the disease. So far, three deaths have been reported.
Several New York health officials have spoken about how contagious the disease is and what can be done to contain it. Among them is Health Commissioner Michelle Morse. She appeared on PIX11 News to share her insights on the situation.
“This is our top right priority, right now,” Morse said. “In the New York City Health Department. As the city’s doctor, this is something we’re paying extremely close attention to and acting upon very very quickly.”
What is Legionnaires’ Disease?
According to the Mayo Clinic’s website, Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia that is caused by bacteria called Legionella. It is usually contracted through bacteria in the water or soil. It isn’t contracted through person to person. People, who are immune-compromised, smoke, and over 50 years of age, are more prone to contracting the disease. If left untreated, it could be deadly.
The symptoms of Legionnaires are headache, fever, muscle aches, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, and nausea. This disease mainly affects the lungs, but it could impact the heart and inflict sores on the body.
For treatment, one has to take antibiotics for several days to a week to be cured of the disease.
The History of Legionnaires’ Disease in America
The first known case of the disease occurred in Austin, Minnesota in 1957, when 78 people that worked at Hormel Foods Corporation contracted pneumonia. Scientists determined that the survivors of the spread had elevated levels of antibodies L. pneumophila in their blood, which came from the plant’s cooling water near the worksite.
In 1965, 81 patients developed pneumonia at St. Elizabeth’s psychiatric hospital in Washington D.C. Fourteen of these patients died. Analysis of samples showed that there was a L. pneumophila serogroup in the patients’ blood.
Other incidents in 1968 at a Michigan mental health hospital and a Philadelphia hotel in 1974 sparked deaths from the same virus behind these incidents.
1976 Outbreak
However, the most well-known outbreak in America happened in 1976. 4000 people gathered at the Pennsylvania State American Legion to celebrate America’s bicentennial. People became infected with a type of pneumonia, which led to the deaths of 78 people. Scientists determined that the virus, Legionella was behind it. It was considered one of the worst medical tragedies of the twentieth century.
In 1985, the first case of Legionnaires’ Disease was spotted in New York. There was an outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease in 2015 in the Bronx. It was due to its proximity to cooling water. More than 130 people were infected and 16 people died.
Nonetheless, these incidents have paved the way for the current outbreak in New York. Some believe that Legionnaire’s Disease could spread across the boroughs.
What does This Mean for the Rest of the Country
With the contagious strain of the Legionella, there is a possibility of Legionnaires’ Disease spreading to different boroughs in New York and eventually across the country. Many people will become infected. POSSIBLY die from it.
The health and well-being of Americans is at risk as this disease spreads across Central Harlem. Often times, such diseases tend to spread beyond its original reach. There is a possibility that it could become the next Coronavirus pandemic if things aren’t taken care of at the right time. Many Americans, across the country, are concerned about traveling to New York due to this disease.
Concluding Thoughts
Ultimately, health officials in New York and Mayor Adams have expressed their concerns about the spread of Legionnaires’ Disease. In fact, Mayor Adams has spoken out against what he believes to be the problem-cooling waters near Central Harlem. Adams believes that the contaminated waters in the cooling system near the buildings is what caused the Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak.
“We have to rectify the problem within twenty-four hours,” Mayor Adams said.
Officials have said that all cooling waters have been decontaminated. The decontamination of the cooling waters could lead to lower incidents of Legionnaires’ Disease spreading across Central Harlem. Though it isn’t an automatic solution to the problem, the dangers this disease poses to New York residents and Americans, at large, can’t be ignored.
Editor’s Disclaimer:
This article was contributed by a writer to Presence News. The views expressed are their own. Presence News encourages diverse voices and perspectives and welcomes thoughtful, well-researched contributions from our writing team.
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