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New York health officials have now reported 5 deaths in connection with a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Harlem, which has affected at least 92 people since late July, according to a health department press release. More than a dozen people have also been hospitalized as of this week. Leaders confirm that 10 buildings in the area tested positive for live Legionella bacteria, including a city-run hospital and sexual health clinic, which have now completed remediation efforts of their cooling systems. Investigation to determine the source responsible for the outbreak is still underway.
Facts for clinicians: What’s tricky is that Legionnaires’ disease can’t be clinically or radiographically distinguished from pneumonia due to other pathogens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Paired molecular and antigen tests must be performed to make the correct diagnosis. The case-fatality rate for Legionnaires’ disease is approximately 10%, and for healthcare-associated infections, the case-fatality rate averages 25%. A recently updated clinical fact sheet is available online.
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