N.J. investigating another Legionnaires’ outbreak in North Jersey

The state Health Department is investigating the spread of Legionnaires’ disease among nine residents in Passaic and Bergen counties, where a cluster of cases was detected last winter, acting state Health Commissioner Kaitlan Baston announced.

Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia that is spread by breathing small droplets of water in the air containing the Legionella bacteria. It is treatable with antibiotics, but it can be fatal. People who are 50 years old or older, smokers, people with weakened immune systems, chronic lung disease or other chronic health conditions are at the highest risk of getting sick.

“Early diagnosis is key to effectively treating Legionnaires’ disease,” Baston said in a statement. “Although the risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease if you live in or have recently visited Passaic or Bergen counties remains low, individuals who develop pneumonia-like or respiratory symptoms should visit their health care provider immediately to be evaluated.”

The cases reported in Bergen and Passaic counties in November and December were not linked to a single cause, the health department said.

In last year’s outbreak and in the current cluster of cases, the state declined to say where in Bergen and Passaic counties the affected people live.

In March, the health department reported seven Legionnaire’s cases in Trenton, Ewing, and parts of Lawrence and Hopewell Township in Mercer County. All the homes were served by Trenton Water Works. Two people died.

Symptoms of the disease include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle aches, and headache — which are similar to COVID-19 symptoms. Only a doctor can confirm a Legionnaires’ diagnosis. It may take symptoms two weeks to develop.

About 250 to 375 cases of Legionnaires’ disease are reported to the state Health Department each year. Investigations, conducted with the help of county and local health departments “can be lengthy and identifying the exact source is often challenging,” according to the health department’s announcement.

Visit the health department’s website for more information about Legionnaires’ disease.

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Susan K. Livio may be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio