New Jersey

2 New Cases of Legionnaires' Disease Surface: NYC Health Officials

Two new cases of Legionnaires' disease have surfaced in New York City, health officials said Wednesday.

One patient is a 77-year-old woman from East Orange, New Jersey. Health officials said the case is not connected to the  recent Legionnaires' disease outbreak in the south Bronx that sickened more than 120 people, killing 12 of them.

Information about the condition of the woman wasn't available.

City health department officials confirmed that two people are being treated for the disease at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Information about the second patient wasn't available.

Mayor de Blasio and city health officials have said that the outbreak "has been contained." There had not been a new case since August 3rd.

Legionnaires' disease usually sets in two to 10 days after exposure to the bacteria and has symptoms similar to pneumonia, including shortness of breath, high fever, chills and chest pains. People with Legionnaires' also experience appetite loss, confusion, fatigue and muscle aches.

It cannot be spread person-to-person and those at highest risk for contracting the illness include the elderly, cigarette smokers, people with chronic lung or immune system disease and those receiving immunosuppressive drugs. Most cases can be treated successfully with antibiotics.
 

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