Number of Legionnaires' cases rising in US (230 % increased)

25 November 2014

The incidence of Legionnaires’ disease in the US is increasing and, overall, cases of the disease in the city of New York increased 230% between 2002 and 2009, according to a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A CDC study revealed that New Yorkers living in poverty are at a higher risk from the potentially fatal infection.

The findings of the nine-year study Legionnaires’ Disease Incidence and Risk Factors, New York, USA show a strong link between poverty and the disease, with those New Yorkers living in the most deprived areas 2.5 times more likely to contract Legionnaires’ than those in the least deprived areas.

The strong association between poverty and Legionnaires’ disease could be attributed to a number of factors, including environment and housing and underlying health issues.