Union County Legionnaire's Disease 'Cluster' Includes One Death

UNION COUNTY, NJ — The state of New Jersey warned residents a week ago about a "cluster" of Legionnaire's Disease cases that they saw in Union County last month, but officials released few specifics.

"The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is investigating a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases in Union County," announced the state in a release a week ago Tuesday. "The Department is aware of 14 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease, including one death, among individuals who live in or spend time in the county."

The cases were reported to the Department between Feb. 3 and Feb. 26, said the release.

"The Department is working with the local health departments in Union County to investigate this cluster," the release said. "The individual who died was a male resident of Union County in his late 60s."

State Health Commissioner Judith Persichili said, "This is a continuing investigation. The risk to anyone who lives in Union County is very small. Out of an abundance of caution, the Department recommends that individuals who live in Union County who become ill with pneumonia-like/respiratory symptoms, such as fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, and headache visit their healthcare provider.”

As it can take up to two weeks for symptoms to develop, NJDOH recommends that those who develop symptoms within two weeks of being in Union County also seek medical attention. NJDOH has alerted healthcare providers in the area. Legionnaires’ disease is treatable with antibiotics.

This week, Westfield Regional Health Officer Megan Avallone did not respond to messages asking for more specifics about the cluster, and whether any of the cases were from the eight towns in her purview.

Legionnaire's Disease is so named because it was reported on a wide scale after a convention of members of the American Legion in Philadelphia in 1976.

The risk of Legionnaires’ disease among residents or recent visitors to Union County is low, the state said. Most healthy people exposed to Legionella do not develop Legionnaires’ disease. People over the age of 50, especially those who smoke cigarettes, or those with certain medical conditions, including weakened immune systems, chronic lung disease or other chronic health conditions, are at increased risk for Legionnaires’ disease.

NJDOH receives approximately 250-350 reports of Legionnaires’ disease each year, the state says.

Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia (lung infection) caused by bacteria called Legionella. People can get Legionnaires’ disease by breathing in aerosolized (small droplets) water containing Legionella bacteria. Aerosolized water can come from cooling towers (air-conditioning units for large buildings), hot tubs, cooling misters, decorative fountains, and plumbing systems. Less commonly, people can get sick by aspiration of tap water containing Legionella.

The state website has more information on the disease. Patch will report more information if it becomes available.

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