Woman with pneumonia describes symptoms amid Legionnaires' outbreak: 'My body is hurting really bad'
HARLEM, Manhattan (WABC) -- A woman diagnosed with pneumonia described her frightening symptoms amid a Legionnaires' outbreak in Harlem that has infected nearly 70 people and led to three deaths.
"My body is hurting really bad," said Stephanie Tribble. "Just the other day, I thought I was having a heart attack."
The symptoms of Legionnaires' disease sound similar to that of the flu.
"I got the chills, I started sweating," she said.
But Tribble said it didn't feel like any illness she's had before.
"I have asthma. I'm scared because I don't know what's going on with my body," she said.
A doctor diagnosed the Harlem resident with pneumonia: a concern for Tribble as Central Harlem experiences a Legionnaires' outbreak.
The New York City Health Department says at least 67 people have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease since July 25. Three people have died.
Health officials say you can get the disease by breathing in water vapor that has the Legionella bacteria.
Dr. Aaron Glatt says it's hard to detect
"This pneumonia can be very similar to other types of pneumonia," said Dr. Glatt, an epidemiologist at Mount Sinai South Nassau. "And unless the physician is thinking about it, it could easily go untreated because the agents that may be used to treat other pneumonias may not be perfect for legionella."
Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia that is caused by the bacteria legionella which grows in warm water.
Plumbing systems where conditions are favorable for Legionella growth include cooling towers
The Health Department is investigating an area of Harlem and says crews have remediated 11 cooling towers with initial positive screening results for legionella.
Dr. Glatt explained who's at risk.
"If they have chronic lung disease, like emphysema or something called COPD," he said.
People like Tribble, with a history of asthma, are also at risk.
"Anybody at higher risk should certainly see their physician sooner rather than later," Dr. Glatt said.
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