Legionnaires' Disease Should Not Cause Panic

An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease that has killed four and sickened more than 70 people in the Bronx shouldn’t cause panic in the surrounding boroughs, says a New York infectious disease physician.

“It’s not a large threat,” said Bruce Hirsch, MD, an infectious disease specialist in the North Shore-LIJ Health System. “It’s really individuals that are vulnerable, such as those that have lung disease or chronic alcohol use that are subject to getting the worst infection.”

Typical symptoms include pneumonia, a cough and fever, and can range from subtle to severe depending on the person. Incubation is usually about 10 days.

Named after an outbreak in 1976 that killed 34 and was traced back to the Philadelphia convention of the American Legion, it is spread through airborne water droplets and through water systems, the doctor said.

“Because we know Legionnaires’ disease is in the environment, we can take action to prevent it from persisting in the environment,” said Dr. Hirsch. “We can take special efforts to disinfect our water systems and water containment reservoirs to prevent further cases.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 8,000 to 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease each year in the U.S.

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