Fourth death linked to Legionnaires' disease cluster in New York nursing facility

ALBANY, NY — A fourth person has died in an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease at a nursing facility in upstate New York, health officials said Tuesday.

Albany County authorities last week announced the first three deaths among 10 people who tested positive for the disease at Peregrine Senior Living at Shaker in Albany.

Albany County Health Officer Maribeth Miller said in a prepared statement Tuesday that there have been two new positive tests for Legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease, and that there are now a total of four deaths linked to the outbreak.

Legionnaires' disease is a serious form of pneumonia caused by inhaling small water droplets containing Legionella bacteria that can lurk in plumbing. Older people, people with weakened immune systems, or people with certain medical conditions such as chronic lung disease are at higher risk of developing Legionnaires' disease.

County officials said last week that two of those who died had been hospitalized for other health issues, so it was unclear whether they died from Legionnaires' disease. Miller said in her prepared statement Tuesday that there have been four “pneumonia deaths” related to this outbreak. County officials declined to provide further details.

In response to the outbreak, health officials have worked with Peregrine and area hospitals to ensure people with symptoms are tested and treated and a water treatment program is implemented. Water restrictions have been put in place, Miller said, and…

Peregrine operators said last week they were coordinating with state and local health officials to protect residents, employees and visitors. An email seeking further comment was sent to the facility's operators on Tuesday.