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New York, Legionella nightmare: about 1,449 reported cases of infection between 2002 and 2009
An American study on Legionnaires' disease highlights a significant increase in legionella infections in the USA, especially in New York. The causes? Poverty and profession.
After the UK and Italy, also the United States seem to be living in the shadow of the Legionnaires’ disease, since the number of reported cases suffering with infection has increased dramatically in recent years, especially in the city symbolizing progress and modernity the most, thats is, New York.
According to data from an American research team, summarised in the ninth "Legionnaires’ Disease Incidence and Risk Factors, New York, USA" study, published on the US CDC website (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the reported cases of infection and deaths caused by the legionella bacterium would be dramatically increased not only in the United States, but also in the Big Apple, between 2002 and 2009, where a +230% increase in legionella infections was recorded.
Socio-economic and employment factors would contribute, according to the American research team, to the spread and development of infections: in fact, American citizens residing in the poorest areas of a city as New York, for example, may contract the virus up to 2.5 times more than those who live in less disadvantaged areas.
Moreover, those who work in transport, construction and production have turned out to be at increased risk of infection, since they get more in contact with contaminated water particles sprayed into the air, the main vehicles to convey the virus.
Outbreaks of infection and the almost 1,500 reported cases above-mentioned in the United States between 2002 and 2009 could be easily prevented, the study concludes, if the city authorities, companies and even landlords would start to address the issue, minimizing the risk of vulnerability which is being faced every day by American citizens.
In this respect, proper designing, contructing and maintaining of water networks may be a good starting point.
Please find the PDF file by CDC on Legionnaires’ disease incidence and risk factors in New York attached.
According to data from an American research team, summarised in the ninth "Legionnaires’ Disease Incidence and Risk Factors, New York, USA" study, published on the US CDC website (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the reported cases of infection and deaths caused by the legionella bacterium would be dramatically increased not only in the United States, but also in the Big Apple, between 2002 and 2009, where a +230% increase in legionella infections was recorded.
Socio-economic and employment factors would contribute, according to the American research team, to the spread and development of infections: in fact, American citizens residing in the poorest areas of a city as New York, for example, may contract the virus up to 2.5 times more than those who live in less disadvantaged areas.
Moreover, those who work in transport, construction and production have turned out to be at increased risk of infection, since they get more in contact with contaminated water particles sprayed into the air, the main vehicles to convey the virus.
Outbreaks of infection and the almost 1,500 reported cases above-mentioned in the United States between 2002 and 2009 could be easily prevented, the study concludes, if the city authorities, companies and even landlords would start to address the issue, minimizing the risk of vulnerability which is being faced every day by American citizens.
In this respect, proper designing, contructing and maintaining of water networks may be a good starting point.
Please find the PDF file by CDC on Legionnaires’ disease incidence and risk factors in New York attached.
