The death toll from a Bronx outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease has risen from four to seven people, city health officials announced Monday at a town-hall meeting of concerned residents.
“We are taking this very seriously,” Dr. Mary Bassett, the city’s health commissioner, told the audience at the Bronx Museum of the Arts.
More than 80 people have been diagnosed with the disease, which is caused when water contaminated with a certain bacteria is inhaled into the lungs. Of those sickened, 64 have been hospitalized, with 28 of them treated and discharged.
The seven people who died were all older and had other health problems, officials said.
Dr. Jay Varma, deputy commissioner for disease control for the city Department of Health, emphasized that the disease is not passed from person to person and that most people aren’t at risk.
There have been 2,400 cases nationwide this year. The legionella bacteria were discovered last week at a hotel and in equipment at Lincoln Hospital.
Officials have traced the likely cause of the outbreak to cooling towers.
They said five towers in the area have tested positive for legionella bacteria. All five have been decontaminated.