A fifth person has succumbed to a deadly vapor that has crept up on New York City.
Legionnaires’ disease, a kind of pneumonia that spreads from toxic water vapor, has also infected 108 people since the outbreak began at the end of July, according to the New York City Health Department on Monday.
The latest death was ‘under investigation for some time and our team was able to confirm this death as part of the cluster today’, stated the department.
Twelve cooling centers in Central Harlem tested positive for Legionella bacteria, which grows in warm water and can be transmitted when the liquid becomes steam.
All the affected centers were drained and disinfected on Friday.
The disease was airborne at health centers, residences, various businesses and a college in Harlem, which is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan.
They include NYC Health + Hospitals Harlem Hospital, NYC Health Department Central Harlem Sexual Health Clinic, The New York Hotel Trades Council Harlem Health Center, The New York Hotel Trades Council Harlem Health Center, Harlem Center Condo, Commonwealth Local Development, and the CUNY City College Marshak Science Building, among others.
The number of cases is growing but the rate has declined, a sign that it has likely been contained.
Authorities are still investigating which cooling tower was the source of the outbreak.
Details on the people who died and those battling the disease have not been released.
High-profile attorneys Ben Crump and Reverand Al Sharpton said they plan to announce a lawsuit on Wednesday against a construction company they believe caused the outbreak.
Legionnaires’ disease symptoms include a fever reaching 104 Fahrenheit or higher, muscle aches and severe headaches.
People can die from lung failure, kidney failure, decreased blood flow to the organs, or a septic shock.
About 1,000 Americans die of Legionnaires’ disease per year and 8,000 to 10,000 become infected.
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