Lead

A second person has died in the legionnaires' disease outbreak in New York City, according to officials who also reported evidence that the source of the outbreak "has likely been eliminated." The outbreak, centered on Manhattan's Upper East Side, has sickened at least 72 people as of Saturday, according to the New York City health department. Nine people remain hospitalized and 50 have been discharged.

The second death was announced in a statement from the city's health department on Saturday. As with the first death announced Friday, the statement did not identify the person or provide details on when or how they fell ill.

Coverage comparison

The Guardian's World section reported the first death on Friday, noting that at least 67 people had been infected and dozens hospitalized, with the investigation focusing on air-conditioning systems atop large buildings. In a later report, the same outlet covered the second death, which came with the health department's assessment that the source of the outbreak had likely been eliminated. The later report also carried updated figures on the number of people sickened and hospitalized.

The Guardian's initial coverage quoted city health department data indicating that investigators were still trying to pinpoint the source. The follow-up report included a statement attributed to the city's health commissioner, Dr Alister F Martin, saying there was "encouraging" data suggesting the strategy of testing, enforcement and remediation appeared to have stopped the source of exposure.

Key claims

The following key claims have been reported in the coverage:

  • A second person has died in the legionnaires' disease outbreak.
  • At least 72 people have been sickened as of Saturday.
  • Nine people remain hospitalized.
  • 50 people have been discharged from the hospital.
  • Cooling towers on more than 75 Upper East Side buildings tested positive for Legionella bacteria.
  • The source of the outbreak has likely been eliminated.
  • Legionnaires' disease is treatable but kills about 10% of patients.
The earlier report noted that at least 67 people had been infected, a figure that appears to have been updated in later reporting. The first death was announced Friday, the second on Saturday.

According to The Guardian, city health officials began tracking the outbreak on 2 July after two people were infected in the Upper East Side area. Tests identified either living or dead Legionella bacteria in cooling towers on more than 75 buildings, including prominent museums, private schools, and apartment houses. All those buildings were ordered to clean, drain, and disinfect their cooling towers. The exact source remains uncertain, and investigators are continuing to inspect every tower that tested positive.

Dr Martin's statement said: "We directed every building with an initial positive test result to immediately clean and disinfect its cooling tower, and every one has completed that work. We have also reminded cooling tower operators across the city of their summertime requirement to increase use of biocides that kill" the Legionella bacteria.

The health department confirmed an average of more than eight new cases daily through 8 July, which dropped to fewer than one daily from 10 to 17 July.

Legionnaires' disease, a form of pneumonia, does not spread person to person. Legionella bacteria grow in warm water and can spread through cooling towers, hot tubs, and showerheads; people contract the disease by inhaling tiny droplets of contaminated water.

Last year, seven people died and more than 100 were sickened during an outbreak in New York's Harlem neighborhood, according to The Guardian.