Rare pneumonia-like illness kills 3 in New York City: What is Legionnaires’ disease? Is it deadly?

Rare pneumonia-like illness kills 3 in New York City: What is Legionnaires’ disease? Is it deadly?

Three people have died and 67 others have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease in New York City in recent weeks. The illness, a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, mainly affects people over 50, smokers, and those with chronic lung issues or weakened immunity

This 1978 electron microscope image shows Legionella pneumophila bacteria. File Photo/CDC via AP