An outbreak of in New York City has killed two people and sickened 58 since late July.

City health officials link the Central Harlem outbreak to , structures containing water and a fan that are used to cool buildings. They said 11 of these towers initially tested positive for a type of bacteria that causes , but the problem has been remedied.

They urged people in the area with flu-like symptoms to contact a health care provider as soon as possible, especially if they are 50 or older, smoke or have chronic lung conditions.

Here’s what to know.

What is Legionnaires’ disease?

It’s a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which grow in warm water and spread in building water systems. They can be found in places such as showerheads, hot tubs and cooling towers.

People often

See Full Page