Legionnaires' disease is on the rise; in New York City during 2002-2009, new cases increased by 230%. This bacterial disease is transmitted by inhaling contaminated water droplets. Known risk factors are underlying medical conditions (smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, weakened immune system, age older than 50, receipt of a transplant or chemotherapy), travel, residence in a health care facility, and proximity to contaminated water in cooling towers, whirlpool spas, decorative fountains, and grocery produce misters. But can socioeconomic status or job also put a person at risk?
A recent study indicates that the answer might be yes. In New York City, most cases occurred in people who lived in high-poverty areas and/or worked in the fields of transportation, repair, protective services, cleaning, or construction. If those associations are confirmed, cases could be reduced by better maintenance of cooling towers and water systems in buildings in these areas and by providing personal protective equipment for people who work at high-risk jobs.
Study: Legionnaires' Disease Incidence and Risk Factors, New York, New York, USA, 2002-2011, Andrea Farnham, Lisa Alleyne, Daniel Cimini, and Sharon Balter, Emerging Infectious Diseases, DOI: 10.3201/eid2011.131872, published 15 October 2014.