3 dead in Legionnaire’s disease outbreak at New York assisted living facility

Three people are dead after a Legionnaire’s disease outbreak at a New York assisted living facility, officials announced Thursday.

A cluster of cases at Peregrine Senior Living Facility in Albany had been discovered on Friday, the Albany County Executive’s Office said in a statement.

Since the discovery of Legionella bacteria at the facility, 20 people have been hospitalized, 10 people have tested positive and three of those who tested positive have died, the statement said.

According to the CDC, Legionella bacteria can cause a serious type of pneumonia, known as Legionnaires disease or Pontiac fever. Legionella bacteria is spread through the air when an individual breathes in a mist that contains the bacteria.

Some water samples at the Peregrine Senior Living Facility tested positive for Legionella and further testing is being done, the county executive’s office said. Water filters have been installed at the facility for the safety of other residents.

Legionnaire’s disease is not contagious and cannot be spread from person to person, therefore posing no threat to the community at-large, according to the county executive’s office.

In a statement to NBC News, the New York State Department of Health said that signage has been posted to the facility, water restrictions are implemented and water samples are continuing to be collected.