1 Dead From Legionnaires' Disease In Brooklyn NYCHA Homes: Officials

BROOKLYN, NY — A deadly pair of Legionnaires' Disease infections in a Brooklyn NYCHA development prompted city health officials to launch an investigation.

The probe centers around the water system in Brownsville's Langston Hughes Houses on Sutter Avenue, where a resident died after contracting Legionnaire's Disease last summer, health officials told Patch Wednesday.

Another tenant tested positive for the illness in January but survived, officials said.

"The Health Department and building management are promptly alerting residents of the situation and providing guidance on how to prevent exposure, especially for those at higher risk for disease," a statement from the department reads.

Officials haven't confirmed if the two tenants contracted the illness in the building or elsewhere.

Health workers are currently finalizing tests on the building's water supply, and they have notified residents of the investigation, officials said.

Additionally, they are providing tips on how to minimize exposure, particularly for those at higher risk of illness.

Legionella is not typically found in drinking water but can be transmitted through water vapor, such as from showers or when filling a tub or sink.

Health department personnel have advised older and medically vulnerable tenants to take baths by slowly filling the tub and to spend minimal time in the bathroom while running the faucet.

Residents have also been instructed to run the tap at a trickle while washing dishes and to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle pains, or coughing.

"It’s fine to drink cold water from the tap, but start with cold water when heating water for tea, coffee or cooking," officials said.

Most people exposed to the bacteria face a low risk for the disease, but Legionnaires'—a form of pneumonia—is fatal in about one in 10 people.

Symptoms, similar to other types of pneumonia, typically manifest between two and 14 days after exposure.

Groups particularly susceptible to the disease include older adults, current and former smokers, and individuals with weakened immune systems, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

No vaccine or medication can prevent Legionnaires’ disease. Officials stress that the best prevention method is the proper maintenance of water systems where Legionella bacteria may grow, such as stagnant water systems.