Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in New York City leaves 7 dead and more than 100 infected

A seventh person has died after the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in New York City.

Heath officials in the city discovered the death in Central Harlem Thursday, where more than 100 people have been diagnosed with the ailment.

Officials said they had concluded the death of a person with the disease, who died before mid-August, is associated with the cluster.

They added that the number of people diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease as of Thursday has risen to 114, while six people are hospitalized.

The bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease had been discovered in 12 cooling towers on 10 buildings, including a city-run hospital and sexual health clinic, health officials said.

Remediation efforts have since been completed on all of the cooling towers.

Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia that is caused by Legionella bacteria, which grow in warm water and spread through building water systems. The city’s outbreak has been linked to cooling towers, which use water and a fan to cool buildings.

People usually develop symptoms — a cough, fever, headaches, muscle aches and shortness of breath — between two days and two weeks after exposure to the bacteria, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

City health officials say people who live or work in the area should contact a health care provider if they develop flu-like symptoms.