A little-known illness called Legionnaires’ disease has infected at least 58 people in New York City’s Central Harlem neighborhood in the past two weeks. Two people have died during the outbreak, which has been tied to cooling towers that tested positive for the disease-causing bacterium Legionella pneumophila , according to a statement from city health officials on August 4 .

The disease is a severe pneumonia and one of two infections caused by bacteria in the genus Legionella, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . (The bacteria can also cause a milder illness called Pontiac fever, which can manifest with fever, muscle aches and headaches.) When diagnosed early, Legionnaires’ can be treated successfully with antibiotics.

Health care providers repor

See Full Page