A Dramatic Increase of Legionnaires’ Disease Cases in the Bronx, NY

New York, NY – WEBWIRE – Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Health officials are investigating a large increase in the number of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) cases in the Bronx. In 2014, this borough of New York City had an incidence rate of 4.3 per 100,000 residents compared to the 2014 city-wide rate of 2.5 per 100,000 cases according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Health officials recommend that hospitals or nursing homes test for Legionella whenever there is case of community acquired pneumonia.  This testing is required if a patient is diagnosed with LD after being admitted to a hospital or nursing home.

According to the New York State Department of Health, clinical and environmental testing should be able to discriminate between Legionella pneumophila serotype 1 (Lp1) and other species/serotypes of Legionella bacteria. New York City has had past cases of LD caused by non-Lp1 species and serotypes.