10 cases of Legionnaires’ disease confirmed in the Bronx

There are now 10 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the Bronx, city health officials said Tuesday.

The Health Department launched an investigation Friday after a cluster of the potentially serious disease emerged in the Highbridge neighborhood of the Bronx.

Officials had announced Friday that four people had been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease — a type of pneumonia caused by legionella bacteria — in the area since May 9.

The NYC Health Department is urging those exhibiting flu-like symptoms, fever, cough, or difficulty breathing to seek medical attention.

“Any New Yorkers with flu-like symptoms should contact a health care provider as soon as possible,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan.

The Health Department is currently testing cooling tower systems in Highbridge.

Legionnaires’ disease is transmitted through breathing in water vapor that contains the bacteria, typically from sources such as cooling towers, showers, air conditioning and hot tubs. The illness cannot be transferred from one person to another.

People over the age of 50, cigarette smokers, those with chronic lung diseases, and immunocompromised people are at a higher risk of contracting Legionnaires’.

The infection can be treated with antibiotics if caught early.