Experts reveal how to avoid deadly Legionnaires' disease as NYC outbreak kills 5

As New York City continues to investigate an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease that has claimed multiple lives and sickened dozens of people, doctors say there are ways people can reduce the risk of exposure.As of July 21, there have been five deaths and 82 diagnoses linked to the Upper East Side outbreak, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.Eight patients remain hospitalized.Health officials said no new cases had been reported in the previous six days, suggesting the source of exposure has likely been eliminated, although the investigation remains ongoing.NYC LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE OUTBREAK KILLS FOURTH VICTIM, 76 CASES REPORTEDLegionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia that is typically spread by tiny water droplets containing Legionella bacteria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.As New York City continues to investigate an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease that has claimed multiple lives and sickened dozens of people, doctors say there are ways people can reduce the risk of exposure.

(iStock)Common sources of infection include contaminated building water systems, such as cooling towers (large structures that remove heat from water used in building cooling systems), hot tubs or plumbing.Cases have also been reported on cruise ships and in spas.

It is not generally spread from person to person, per the CDC."We get infected when it gets aerosolized in the water droplets, usually, and we breathe those droplets in," "Dr.Dana Mordue, associate professor of pathology, microbiology and immunology at New York Medical College, told Fox News Digital.NYC HEALTH OFFICIALS WARN CENTRAL PARK VISITORS AFTER LEGIONNAIRES’ OUTBREAK GROWS ON UPPER EAST SIDE"You can also get infected if you have water that's been contaminated and you aspirate it and swallow it into your lungs, but most often you get it from air droplets that are contaminated from various types of water sources."Legionnaires’ disease is a...