Deaths Reported From Legionnaires Outbreak at Albany Assisted Living Facility

A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at a local assisted living facility has had deadly consequences for the community that lives there.

As reported by PIX 11 News in New York, ten residents at the Peregrine Senior Living at Shaker in Albany have tested positive for the disease within the last few weeks. Unfortunately, three residents lost their lives after being transported to the hospital last week, and a fourth passing was confirmed by health officials on Tuesday.

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Per The Mayo Clinic, legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia — lung inflammation usually caused by infection. It's caused by a bacterium known as legionella.

Most people catch Legionnaires' disease by inhaling the bacteria from water or soil. Older adults, smokers and people with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to Legionnaires' disease.

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It can take anywhere between two and ten days for the disease to develop, and for patients to begin to show symptoms. Preliminary symptoms include headache, muscle aches and a high fever.

Diseases like this are especially dangerous at assisted living facilities, as anyone over 50 years of age is increasingly susceptible to catching it. It can also spread through drinking water, pools and other shared water sources.

With that in-mind, PIX 11 confirms that health officials have been working with Peregrine and area hospitals to make sure that people with symptoms are tested and treated and a water treatment program is implemented at the facility.