Legionnaire's Disease Outbreak Facts & News: NYC Death Toll & Recorded Cases Update

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The current death toll for the outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease currently ravaging New York City has climbed to 12, confirms NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday.

The current tally of those infected with Legionnaire's disease is a total of 113 cases with 76 people hospitalized and released since the outbreak started last July 10, USA Today reports. The outlet added that there have been no new reports of the sickness since Aug. 3 and this could signal the slowing down of the outbreak.

"We have no evidence over the last few days of any new cases of Legionnaire's. As we go through every passing day with no new sicknesses, it's a very promising sign," Mayo de Blasio said.

Legionnaire's disease is caused by a bacterium called legionella and is considered to be an advanced form of pneumonia which causes inflammation to the lungs. The disease is caught when the patient inhales the bacteria. Those who are particularly at risk are smokers, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

Symptoms of the illness include headache, chills, fever, muscle pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, confusion, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to Mayo Clinic. If left untreated, Legionnaire's disease can be fatal. It is imperative to start treatment immediately if one has contracted the disease because in most cases, treatment will require hospitalization.

According to The New York Times, the Opera House Hotel in South Bronx was one of five places that first tested positive for Legionella bacteria. However an investigating official says the findings are yet to be confirmed.

"The preponderance of medical and scientific information available now points to one of the original five sites as the source of this outbreak, with the Opera House Hotel as the most likely source of the outbreak," an official whose name has been retracted told the outlet. "This is not final or official until test results are received back from the lab," the official explained, refusing to be named because of the unconfirmed results.

The other four places that tested positive for the bacteria in the preliminary investigation are Concourse Plaza shopping mall, Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, Streamline Plastics Company, and a Verizon office building.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo had come in agreement with Mayor de Blaiso about regulating the cooling towers that were linked to the disease. However, The Wall Street Journal reports that both have different plans on how to go about managing the towers. Mayor de Blasio plans on enacting rules and laws on Thursday regarding the incident, while Gov. Cuomo stated that he plans to regulate the buildings without procuring the requirement of getting approval from the legislative body.