Warning to Central Park visitors as life-threatening viral outbreak hits Upper East Side
Visitors to Central Park on the Upper East Side are being warned to stay alert for symptoms as a potentially life-threatening Legionnaires’ disease spreads through several neighborhoods.Fourteen people have been diagnosed with the pneumonia-like illness in Carnegie Hall and Yorkville as of Sunday, according to the New York City Health Department, up from just two cases on Thursday.“Legionnaires’ disease is deadly but can be effectively treated if diagnosed early,” NYC Health Commissioner Dr.Alister Martin said in a statement.“We advise people to monitor for flu-like symptoms and to contact a healthcare provider immediately if symptoms occur,” he added.
“Additionally, out of an abundance of caution, anyone who visited the east side of Central Park from East 76th to East 97th Street since late June, should also be monitoring their symptoms.”A warning is also out to anyone who has lived in, worked in or visited the impacted neighborhoods — which include the ZIP codes 10028, 10128 and 10075 — since late June.Health officials said the likely source of the outbreak is a contaminated cooling tower nearby, which can spray mist with the disease.However, they have still not pinpointed which one.Last year, an outbreak in Harlem killed seven and hospitalized 90, with 114 total confirmed cases.Here’s everything you need to know about the potentially deadly infection.
It’s a severe form of pneumonia caused by legionella bacteria infecting the lungs.Though considered rare, Legionnaires’ disease is on the rise in the US, with reported cases increasing nine-fold since 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Each year, an estimated 8,000 to 18,000 Americans are hospitalized with the infection, but experts believe the true number is likely much higher because many cases go undiagnosed.While legionella can be found naturally in lakes, streams and soil, it can turn deadly when it grows in man-made water systems.
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